Method for counteracting the perception of sweat malodour by decreasing the function of carboxylic acid-binding olfactory receptors

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the identification of carboxylic acids, present in human sweat, as natural ligands of a specific subgroup of seven olfactory receptor (OR) belonging to class 1 within the OR classification. The invention encompasses the use of the interaction of OR polypeptides and carboxylic acids as the basis of screening assays for agents that specifically modulate the activity of the seven ORs of the invention.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/024,325, filed Feb. 9, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,637,259), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jul. 23, 2013, is named 88055 DIV(309802)_SL.txt and is 30,239 bytes in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the characterization of olfactory receptors. In particular, the present invention relates to seven class 1 olfactory receptors and the identification of their natural ligands corresponding to carboxylic acids present in human sweat. The present invention provides assays and methods of screening for compounds, particularly antagonists or blockers, modulating the interaction between olfactory receptors and their respective natural ligands. The present invention further provides compositions and methods comprising the above-mentioned compounds to counteract sweat malodors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Olfactory Receptors

The genes coding for olfactory receptors (ORs) represent the largest family of genes (3% of the whole genome) in the human body dedicated to a single physiological function. These ORs belong to the superfamily of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are membrane receptors usually located at the surface of many different cell types. The common features of these receptors consist of seven transmembrane spans that form a barrel within the cell membrane and in their capacity to interact with heterotrimeric GTPase and thereby transducing a signal upon binding of their activators.

In the human genome, about 900 sequences containing characteristic signatures of olfactory receptors have been found. However, 60% of these appear to encode non-functional pseudogenes, thereby leaving humans with about 380 different OR proteins. ORs are characterized by 6 conserved amino acid motifs in their sequence. The first is the FILLG motif (SEQ ID No. 17) located in the extracellular N-terminal end of the receptor. It corresponds to a highly conserved phenylalanine and glycine separated by 3 variable but mostly hydrophobic amino acids. The other motifs include LHTPMY (SEQ ID No. 18) in intracellular loop 1, MAYDRYVAIC (SEQ ID No. 19) at the end of transmembrane domain 3 and the beginning of intracellular loop 2, SY (SEQ ID No. 20) at the end of transmembrane domain 5, FSTCSSH (SEQ ID No. 21) in the beginning of transmembrane domain 6, and PMLNPF (SEQ ID No. 22) in transmembrane domain 7.

The mammalian ORs are usually subdivided in two distinct classes. Class 1 ORs, also called fish-like receptors, form a homogenous group that is more closely related to ORs found in fish and are therefore assumed to represent a conserved relic maintained throughout the evolution of the vertebrates. The persistence of this group of ancestral ORs suggests that they play an important role in mammalian chemical perception. In humans, class 1 ORs encompass 68 non-pseudogenic sequences that correspond to potential functional proteins. These receptors share several characteristic domains in their sequence that allows their classification as “class 1” ORs. It is also to be noted that some amino acids located in the transmembrane domains are highly conserved within the members of the fish-like ORs. In contrast to the fish-like ORs, class 2 ORs first appeared in tetrapode vertebrates and expanded to form the majority of the OR repertoire presently known in humans. Class 2 ORs probably represent an adaptation to the terrestrial life where the detection of airborne odorants is required.

Mechanisms of Odor Perception.

Each OR is able to interact with different molecules, and each odorant molecule can activate more than one OR. Thus, odor perception does not rely on the simple activation of a single OR, but rather on multiple activations of several ORs. An odor (which can be a single molecule or a mixture) is paired with a unique set of activated ORs that are sufficient for its discrimination and characterization. Odorant concentration can dramatically affect the profile of an odor as some additional ORs may be recruited (high concentration) or not activated (low concentration). Therefore, the set of activated ORs will differ for different odor concentrations, leading to varying odor perceptions. With a pool of 380 ORs, the number of possible combinations is almost infinite, thus explaining the outstanding discrimination properties of the olfactory system. Odorant receptors are expressed in specialized olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) located at the top of the nasal cavity in a small area that constitutes the olfactory epithelium. Filiform extensions at one end of these cells contain the ORs on their surface and float in the nasal mucus where the odorants are dissolved. At the opposite end, the OSN extends its axon across the ethmoid bone at the base of the cranium to connect to the olfactory bulb a small region of the brain dedicated to the integration of the olfactory stimuli. An outstanding feature of the tens of millions of OSNs scattered throughout the olfactory epithelium is that each one expresses only one of the about 400 OR genes available in the human genome. The OSNs expressing the matching gene connect their axons to the same subregion of the olfactory bulb forming a structure called a glomerulus. It is from this organization of OSNs that the coding of an odor by a specific set of activated ORs is translated geographically in the bulb by a corresponding pattern of activated glomeruli. This information is further transmitted to the olfactory area of the cortex where it is decoded and analyzed. In OSNs, triggering of the OR promotes the activation of an olfactory-specific G protein (Galpha-olf) that stimulates a type III adenylate cyclase to produce cyclic AMP; this plays the role of a second messenger. Upon binding to a cAMP-gated cation channel, this messenger induces the entry of calcium into the cell. Calcium causes the opening of another channel that promotes the exit of chloride ions, and hence triggers an action potential of the neuron leading to a signal to the respective brain area.

Characterisation of Odorant Molecules with ORs

Cultured cell lines have been widely used to characterize and study receptors of interest in both academic and industrial contexts. This approach involves introduction of the corresponding gene into the cells, and subsequent promotion of its stable or transient overexpression. The activity of the receptor can be monitored using a functional assay. The use of easy-to-culture cell lines along with easy-to perform functional assays facilitates several thousand measurements per day. Typically, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is common to test libraries of 1,000,000 compounds per day on non-olfactory receptors. In the aftermath of OR discovery, several attempts were made to express ORs in the cell lines suitable for the expression of non-olfactory receptors, but they remained largely unsuccessful. The reason for such a setback can be found, not in the failure of the cell to produce the receptor, but rather in its inability to send the receptor to the surface of the cell. A technique aimed at improving the functional expression of ORs requires engineering a conventional cell line to make it suitable for OR expression. In fact, it had long been suspected that correct expression and targeting of the OR at the cell surface requires an OSN-specific intracellular machinery that is absent in a non-olfactory cell line. Thorough analysis of the expression in OSNs revealed two members of a new family of proteins that are specific to this sensory cell. When co-introduced into a conventional cell line along with a model OR, the so-called receptor transport proteins 1 and 2 (RTP1 and RTP2) enhanced both the cell surface expression and the response of the receptor to its cognate odorants. The production of cAMP arising in the cell upon activation of the OR by its odorant molecules may be detected by an indirect approach that consists of the use of a reporter gene, as described in (Saito et al., 2004 Cell Vol. 119, 679-691). This gene is placed under the control of a cAMP inducible promoter and is expressed only upon induction by cAMP. Different genes can be used for this purpose, but one of the most popular ones encodes the light-producing protein luciferase. While cleaving its substrate, luciferin, this enzyme releases light that is readily detected and quantified. The intensity of light emitted reflects the amount of luciferase produced, which is proportional to the cAMP increase and therefore directly related to the activity of the receptor. One of the advantages of reporter gene assays is dependent upon the signal amplification between receptor activation and reporter production. This makes the assay particularly sensitive to weak responses that can hardly be detected by other functional assays. Other functional assays have also been used to demonstrate the activation of an OR by its odorant ligand. One of these assays consists in monitoring the increase in cytosolic calcium that occurs upon activation of the receptor intracellular calcium increase (Krautwurtz D. et al. 1998. Cell 95, 917-26).

So far, the identification of odorant activators has only been reported for few mouse odorant ORs. Example of mouse OR deorphanization are given in Malnic et al., 1999, Cell 96, 713-23; Saito H. et al. 2009. Sci. Signal. 2, 1-14).

The identification of human OR activators has also been reported. Examples of deorphanized human ORs are e.g. given in Fujita Y et al. 2007. J. Recept. Signal. Transduct Res. 27, 323-34; Keller A. et al. 2007. Nature 449, 468-72; Matarazzo V. et al. 2005. Chem. Senses 30, 195-207; Saito H. et al. 2009. Sci. Signal. 2, 1-14; Sanz G. et al. 2005. Chem. Senses 30, 69-80; Schmiedeberg K. et al. 2007. J. Struct. Biol. 159, 400-12; Shirokova E. et al. 2004. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 11807-15; Spehr M. et al. 2003. Science 299, 2054-58; Wetzel, K. et al. 1999. J. Neurosci. 19, 7426-33; Sallmann et al. PCT No. WO2006/094704.

For several of the receptors, more than one ligand has been identified. Odorants activating the same OR can belong to different odorant families such as alcohol, aldehyde, esters, etc (Sanz G. et al. 2005. Chem. Senses 30, 69-80; Saito H. et al. 2009. Sci. Signal. 2, 1-14).

Body Malodors

In our modern society, odors released by the human body, and more precisely in the sweat, are often considered as unpleasant or even offensive. Significant efforts have been made by the cosmetic industry to counteract the perception of these odors. Amongst the various categories of molecule present in human sweat, short chain carboxylic acids are of particular importance. Indeed, more than 50 different acids have been identified in sweat. A series of acids is assumed to participate in or to be important for the genesis of malodour (Table 1). For example, 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid or (E)-3-methyl-2-hexenoic possess a pungent odor and both are known to be important contributors to axillary malodor (Zeng et al. 1991; J. Chem. Ecolog. Vol. 17 pp 1469-1492; Gautschi et al., 2007, Chimia, Vol. 61 pp 27-32). Isovaleric acid, another short chain carboxylic acid, has been identified as the major molecule responsible for the characteristic cheesy odor released by sweating feet (Ara et al. 2006. Can. J. Microbiol. Vol. 52 pp 357-364). Acids are not directly produced by the apocrine glands. They appear under the form of glutamine conjugates and are released under the action of skin bacteria enzymes. The abundance of several malodorants may therefore vary from one individual to another, depending on the composition of his bacterial flora.

TABLE 1 Carboxylic acids contributing to sweat malodor Molecule References Odor descriptor acetic acid 1, 2, 3 sharp pungent sour vinegar propanoic acid 2, 3 pungent acidic cheesy vinegar butanoic acid 1, 2, 3 sharp acetic cheese butter fruit Isovaleric acid 2, 3 sour stinky feet sweaty cheese tropical pentanoic acid 3 sickening putrid acidic sweaty rancid hexanoic acid 2, 3, 4, 5 sour fatty sweat cheese 2-methylhexanoic 4 acid, animalic, honey, civet, acid sweet 3-methylhexanoic 4 sweaty, butyric acid (E)-3-methyl-2- 4, 6 acid, sweaty, fruity, fatty, hexenoic acid labdanum, hay, soupy 3-hydroxy-3- 6 pungent sweaty methylhexanoic acid Heptanoic acid 4, 5 rancid sour cheesy sweat 2-methylheptanoic 4 sour-fruity, sweet, slightly acid fatty-oily Octanoic acid 2, 3, 4, 5 fatty waxy rancid oily vegetable cheesy 4-ethyloctanoic 4, 6 costus, fatty, greasy acid nonanoic acid 4 waxy dirty cheese cultured dairy decanoic acid 3, 4 acid, hot iron, metalic, waxy, soapy, metal, candle Undecanoic acid 5 waxy creamy cheese fatty coconut benzoic acid 2 sweet; benzoin powdery phenylacetic 6 sweet, animal-honey acid 1. Yamazaki et al. (2010) Anti-Aging Medicine. 7(6): 60-652. 2. Gallagher et al. (2008) Br. J. Dermatol. 159(4): 780-7913. 3. Ara et al. (2006) Can. J. Microbiol. 52: 357-3644. 4. Zeng et al. (1991) J. Chem. Ecol. 17(7): 1469-14925. 5. Labows et al. (1999) Antiperspirants and Deodorants, 2nd Edition ed K. Laden, Cosmetic Science and Technogy Series Vol. 20 Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, 59-826. 6. Natsch et al (2006) Chem. & Biodiv. 3: 1-20

Different strategies have been developed to counteract sweat malodors. The most conventional ones consist in overpowering the malodor with a pleasant fragrance. In a more sophisticated approach, the fragrance is designed to harmonize well with the malodor and to shift the perception to a more pleasant character. In this case, the fragrance does not need to be a strong odorant by itself.

An alternative way for reducing malodor consists of limiting the production of odorant molecules. This can be achieved either by limiting the skin bacteria population with bacteriostatic agents or by blocking the enzymes responsible for the malodorant release. The development of antagonists and/or blockers that would specifically block the receptors for a malodor molecule can also be considered. An ideal blocker would have no odor per se, would not affect the bouquet and therefore would give a full creative freedom to perfumers.

In the present invention it has surprisingly been discovered that seven olfactory receptors belonging to class 1 of ORs are activated by carboxylic acids present in human sweat. This unexpected discovery allows the identification of compounds, which is of interest for the perfumer and flavorist companies. Indeed, the identified natural ligands of these seven olfactory receptors are known to be important constituents of sweat malodor. The identification and the use of blockers or antagonists of these olfactory receptors in a fragrance composition in order to modify the perception of sweat malodor represents an original concept that can open a new possibility for deodorant development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the identification of seven Olfactory Receptors (ORs) belonging to class 1 of ORs, namely, OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR51I2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5 (the ORs of the invention), as natural receptors for carboxylic acids present in human sweat. The invention encompasses the use of the interaction of these OR polypeptides and carboxylic acids as the basis of screening assays for agents that modulate the activity of the ORs of the invention.

The invention also encompasses kits for performing screening methods based upon the interaction of the 7 ORs invention with carboxylic acids.

The invention encompasses a method of identifying an agent that modulates the activity of one or more of the ORs of the invention, said method comprising: a) contacting an OR polypeptide with a carboxylic acid in the presence and in the absence of a candidate modulator under conditions permitting the binding of said carboxylic acid to said OR polypeptide; and b) measuring the binding of said OR polypeptide to said carboxylic acid, wherein a decrease in binding in the presence of said candidate modulator, relative to the binding in the absence of the candidate modulator, identifies the candidate modulator as an agent that modulates the activity of OR of the invention.

The invention thus provides for a method for identifying an agent that modulates the function of one or more Olfactory Receptors (ORs) selected from the group consisting of: OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR51I2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5 comprising the steps of:

a) contacting said one or more ORs with one or more carboxylic acid(s) selected from the group of consisting of: butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methly-2-hexenoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 4-ethyloctanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid and benzoic acid, in the presence and in the absence of said agent under conditions permitting the binding of said carboxylic acid(s) to said ORs or permitting the activation of said ORs by said carboxylic acid(s),

b) comparing the binding of said one or more ORs to said one or more carboxylic acid(s), or the activity of said one or more ORs, in the presence and in the absence of said agent, wherein a difference in binding or activity in the presence of said agent, relative to the binding or activity in the absence of the agent, identifies the agent as an agent that modulates the function of said one or more ORs in response to said one or more carboxylic acid(s).

In a preferred embodiment, said agent is tested for influencing the binding of said carboxylic acids to all 7 ORs listed therein, or for influencing the activation of all 7 ORs listed therein by said carboxylic acids.

In a further embodiment, said agent is tested for influencing the binding of pentanoic acid to OR52L1, or for influencing the activation of OR52L1 by pentanoic acid.

In another embodiment said agent is tested for influencing the binding of 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid to OR52E8, or for influencing the activation of OR52E8 by 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid.

In a next embodiment, said agent is tested for influencing the binding of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid to OR52B2, or for influencing the activation of OR52B2 by hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid.

In another embodiment said agent is tested for influencing the binding of butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methyl-2-hexanoic acid, or benzoic acid to OR51I2, or for influencing the activation of OR51I2 by butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methyl-2-hexanoic acid, or benzoic acid

In a further embodiment said agent is tested for influencing the binding of butanoic acid to OR52E1, or for influencing the activation of OR52E1 by butanoic acid.

In yet another embodiment said agent is tested for influencing the binding of 4-ethyloctanoic acid to OR52A5, or for influencing the activation of OR52A5 by 4-ethyloctanoic acid.

In another embodiment, said agent is tested for influencing the binding of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid to OR56A5, or for influencing the activation of OR56A5 by hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid.

Preferably, said one or more OR polypeptides is defined by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14. The invention further encompasses a method of detecting in a sample the presence of an agent that modulates the activity of the OR of the invention in a sample, said method comprising a) contacting an OR polypeptide with carboxylic acid in the presence and in the absence of said sample under conditions permitting the binding of said carboxylic acid to said OR polypeptide; and b) measuring the binding of said OR polypeptide to said carboxylic acid, wherein a decrease in binding in the presence of the sample, relative to the binding in the absence of the candidate modulator, indicates the presence, in the sample of an agent that modulates the activity of an OR in said sample.

The invention further encompasses a method of identifying an agent that modulates the function of the OR of the invention said method comprising: a) contacting an OR polypeptide with a carboxylic acid in the presence and in the absence of a candidate modulator, under conditions permitting activation of said OR polypeptide by carboxylic acid; and b) measuring a signaling activity of said OR polypeptide, wherein a change in the activity in the presence of said candidate modulator relative to the activity in the absence of said candidate modulator identifies said candidate modulator as an agent that modulates the function of said OR.

The invention further encompasses a method of identifying an agent that modulates the function of the OR of the invention, said method comprising: a) contacting an OR polypeptide with a candidate modulator; b) measuring a signaling activity of said OR polypeptide in the presence of said candidate modulator; and c) comparing the activity measured in the presence of said candidate modulator to said activity measured in a sample in which said OR polypeptide is contacted with carboxylic acid at its EC₅₀, wherein said candidate modulator is identified as an agent that modulates the function of the OR when the amount of the activity measured in the presence of the candidate modulator is at least 10% of the amount induced by said carboxylic acid present at its EC₅₀.

The invention further encompasses a method of detecting in a sample the presence of an agent that modulates the function of an OR of the invention, said method comprising: a) contacting an OR polypeptide with carboxylic acid in the presence and in the absence of said sample; b) measuring a signaling activity of said OR polypeptide; and c) comparing the amount of said activity measured in a reaction containing OR and carboxylic acid without said sample to the amount of said activity measured in a reaction containing OR, carboxylic acid and said sample, wherein a change in said activity in the presence of said sample relative to the activity in the absence of said sample indicates the presence of an agent that modulates the function of OR in said sample.

The invention further encompasses a method of detecting in a sample the presence of an agent that modulates the function of an OR of the invention, said method comprising: a) contacting an OR polypeptide with said sample; b) measuring a signaling activity of said OR polypeptide in the presence of said sample; and c) comparing said activity measured in the presence of said sample to said activity measured in a reaction in which said OR polypeptide is contacted with carboxylic acid present at its EC₅₀, wherein an agent that modulates the function of the OR is detected if the amount of the activity measured in the presence of said sample is at least 10% of the amount induced by the carboxylic acid present at its EC₅₀.

According to the present invention, when using binding methods the carboxylic acid may be detectably labeled. In said methods, the carboxylic acid may be detectably labeled with a moiety selected from the group consisting of a radioisotope, a fluorophore, and a quencher of fluorescence.

In one embodiment of any one of the preceding methods, the contacting is performed in or on a cell expressing said OR polypeptide. According to the present invention, said cell may be, but is not limited to, Human embryonic kidney cells (Hek293), Chinese hamster cells (CHO), Monkey cells (COS), primary olfactory cells, Xenopus cells, insect cells, yeast or bacteria.

In another embodiment of any one of the preceding methods, the contacting is performed in or on synthetic liposomes (see Tajib et al., 2000, Nature Biotechnology 18: 649-654, which is incorporated herein by reference) or virus-induced budding membranes containing an OR polypeptide (see WO0102551, 2001, incorporated herein by reference).

In another embodiment of any one of the preceding methods, the method is performed using a membrane fraction from cells expressing said OR polypeptide.

In a preferred embodiment of either one of the preceding methods, the method is performed on a protein chip.

In another preferred embodiment of either one of the preceding methods, the measuring is performed using a method selected from label displacement, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, fluorescence quenching, and fluorescence polarization.

In another embodiment of either one of the preceding methods, the agent is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a nucleic acid, and a small organic molecule.

According to the present invention, when a functional assay is used, the step of measuring a signaling activity of the OR of the invention may comprise detecting a change in the level of a second messenger.

In another embodiment, the step of measuring a signaling activity comprises measurement of guanine nucleotide binding/coupling or exchange, adenylate cyclase activity, cAMP, Protein Kinase C activity, Protein Kinase A activity phosphatidylinosotol breakdown, diacylglycerol, inositol triphosphate, intracellular calcium, calcium flux, arachidonic acid, MAP kinase activity, tyrosine kinase activity, melanophore assay, receptor initialization assay, or reporter gene expression. When the G-protein binding/coupling or exchange is measured, of all Ga subunits possible preferably the behaviours of GTP-binding protein G protein alpha-olf subunit (olfactory), also G-olf, is studied. The sequence of the human G-olf subunit has been deposited previously at the Genebank under accession number L10665. However, G-olf subunits of other species may be used and studied.

In a preferred embodiment, the measuring of the signaling activity comprises using a fluorescence or luminescence assay. Fluorescence and luminescence assays may comprise the use of Ca²⁺ sensitive fluorophores including fluo3, Fluo4 or Fura, (Molecular probes); Ca3-kit family (Molecular Device) and aequorin. Furthermore, said assays may apply an automated fluorometric or luminescent reader such as FDSS (Hammamatsu) or FLIPR (Molecular Device).

The invention further encompasses a method of modulating the activity of an OR of the invention in a cell, said method comprising the step of delivering to said cell, a carboxylic acid or agent that modulates the activity of an OR polypeptide, such that the activity of the OR is modulated.

In another embodiment of any one of the preceding methods, the method is a high throughput screening method.

In another embodiment of any one of the preceding methods, the agent is part of a chemical library or animal organ extracts.

According to the present invention, the agent identified or detected by any of the preceeding methods, or the composition comprising said agent, may be used to counteract sweat malodour. Alternatively, these may be used for the preparation of odorant blockers or odorant antagonists. For instance an OR blocker or antagonist may be used as a deodorant. An OR blocker or antagonist may be added to a fragrance or perfume formulation already used as a deodorant to reinforce its efficacy.

The present invention also encompasses a composition comprising an isolated OR polypeptide and a carboxylic acid. In a preferred embodiment, said composition encompasses all 7 ORs identified herein, or any combination thereof of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 receptors.

The present invention further relates to the use of carboxylic acids for the production of a kit for screening agents that modulate the signaling of OR of the invention, or in combination with OR of the invention for the production of a kit to screen odorant blockers or odorant antagonists.

In addition, the present invention encompasses the use of a carboxylic acid present in mammalian sweat as a ligand for OR of the invention.

The present invention also relates to an antibody recognizing the carboxylic acid/OR of the invention complex or fragments thereof.

The invention further encompasses a kit comprising an isolated OR polypeptide or several isolated OR polypeptides, a carboxylic acid and packaging materials therefore; an isolated polynucleotide encoding an OR polypeptide or several isolated polynucleotides encoding an OR polypeptide, a carboxylic acid, and packaging materials therefore; a kit comprising a cell expressing an OR polypeptide or membranes thereof or several cells expressing an OR polypeptide or membranes thereof, a carboxylic acid and packaging materials therefore. Said cell may be transformed with a polynucleotide encoding said OR. In a preferred embodiment, said kit encompasses all 7 ORs identified herein, or any combination thereof of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 receptors and their respective carboxylic acids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C show the DNA and corresponding polypeptide sequences encoding the seven Olfactory Receptors (ORs) of the invention.

FIG. 2A-FIG. 2J correspond to a concentration-response analysis of the seven receptors of the invention with their different activators that are all carboxylic acids found in sweat. These analyses have been performed according to the procedure described in “Experimental procedure”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

As used herein, the term “Olfactory Receptor polypeptides (ORs)” in general refers to polypeptides from the G protein coupled receptor family generated in olfactory neurons. ORs may have the ability to interact with odorant molecules and to transduce the odorant signal. The terms “Olfactory Receptors (ORs) according to the invention” or “Olfactory Receptor polypeptides according to the invention” refer to the group of 7 olfactory receptors that have been shown in the present invention to be able to selectively detect carboxylic acids. Examples of olfactory receptors according to the invention include, but are not limited to polypeptides having at least 80% amino acid identity, and preferably 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or higher, including 100% amino acid identity, to the sequence represented in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C (SEQ ID NOs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14). Said homology may relate to the whole polypeptide or only part of the polypeptide such as CDR domain (ligand-binding domain of the receptor). According to Pilpel and Lancet (Protein Science 8:969-977, 1999) the CDR domain of a GPCR may be defined following the indications published: TM3-#4, TM3-#8, TM3-#11, TM3-#12, TM3-#15, TM4-#11, TM4-#15, TM4-#19, TM4-#22, TM4-#23, TM4-#26, TM5-#3, TM5-#6, TM5-#7, TM5-#10, TM5-#11 and TM5-#13, wherein TMx indicates the transmembrane region of said receptor, and # indicates the amino acid position within said region.

As used herein, the term “OR polynucleotide” refers to a polynucleotide that encodes the OR polypeptides as defined herein. Preferably, said polynucleotide has an identity of at least 80% or more, preferably 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or higher, including 100% nucleic acid identity, to the sequence represented in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C (SEQ ID NOs 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13).

As used herein, the term “OR binding” refers to specific binding of an odorant molecule by an OR polypeptide. Examples of odorant molecules include, but are not limited to carboxylic acids, esters, alcohols and amines.

As used herein, the term “OR signaling activity” refers to the initiation or propagation of signaling by an OR polypeptide. OR signaling activity is monitored by measuring a detectable step in a signaling cascade by assaying one or more of the following: stimulation of GDP for GTP exchange on a G protein and most particularly G-olf; alteration of adenylate cyclase activity; protein kinase C modulation; protein kinase A modulation; phosphatidylinositol breakdown (generating second messengers diacylglycerol, and inositol triphosphate); intracellular calcium flux; activation of MAP kinases; modulation of tyrosine kinases; internalization assay; modulation of gene or reporter gene activity; or melanophore assay. A detectable step in a signaling cascade is considered initiated or mediated if the measurable activity is altered by 10% or more above or below a baseline established in the substantial absence of a carboxylic acid relative to any of the OR activity assays described herein. The measurable activity can be measured directly, as in, for example, measurement of cAMP or diacylglycerol levels. Alternatively, the measurable activity can be measured indirectly, as in, for example, a reporter gene assay. For most of these assays, kits are commercially available.

Carboxylic acids according to the invention are carboxylic acids present in mammalian sweat, preferably human sweat, which participate in or are important for the genesis of sweat malodour (cf. e.g. Table 1).

A “blocker” or “blocking compound” according to the invention is a molecule that attenuates or abolishes the perception of an odor elicited by one or more odorant molecules. A blocker may act by interacting with an OR that transduces the said odor or by interacting with the natural ligand for the receptor. A “blocking compound” of the invention can decrease the intracellular response induced by an agonist, for example a carboxylic acid present in human sweat, by at least 10%, preferably 15-25%, more preferably 25-50% and most preferably, 50-100%. A “blocker” can also refer to a nucleotide sequence encoding a blocker of the invention. A blocker, useful according to the present invention, includes, but is not limited to an antibody, small molecule, aptamer, photoaptamer, modified natural ligand, etc. which specifically binds to at least a portion of an OR which is required for signal transduction through carboxylic acids (such as the ligand binding site), or which is capable of blocking or reducing (e.g., by at least 10%) the signal transduction pathway which is coupled to the OR. Preferably, the blocking agent is preferably volatile, or can be made volatile in combination with appropriate solvents or additives.

As used herein, an “antagonist” is a ligand which binds to a receptor and inhibits the intracellular response induced by a ligand or an agonist, for example a carboxylic acid present in human sweat, by at least 10%, preferably 15-25%, more preferably 25-50% and most preferably, 50-100%, as compared to the intracellular response in the presence of an agonist and in the absence of an antagonist. The antagonist may be competitive i.e. it binds at the same site as the agonist or ligand, but does not activate an intracellular response initiated by an active form of the receptor and therefore avoids the activation by said ligand or agonist. Alternatively, the antagonist may be non-competitive, i.e. it binds to a site other than the agonist or ligand binding site and blocks the receptor in an inactive conformation and therefore avoids the transduction of the olfactory signal by the agonist.

As used herein, “natural ligand” refers to a naturally occurring ligand which binds to a receptor in a manner that is at least equivalent to a carboxylic acid present in human sweat, such as the carboxylic acids as exemplified herein. A “natural ligand” does not refer to an engineered ligand that is not found in nature and that is engineered to bind to a receptor, where it did not formerly do so in a manner different, either in degree or kind, from that which it was engineered to do. Such an engineered ligand is no longer naturally-occurring but is “non-natural” and is derived from a naturally occurring molecule.

As used herein, a “modulator” refers to a compound that increases or decreases the cell surface expression of a receptor of the invention, increases or decreases the binding of a ligand to ORs of the invention, or any compound that increases or decreases the intracellular response initiated by an active form of the ORs of the invention, either in the presence or absence of a ligand for the receptor, for example a carboxylic acid present in human sweat. A modulator includes an antagonist, or blocker, as defined herein. A modulator can be for example, a small molecule, a polypeptide, a peptide, an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a nucleic acid, an aptamer, a photoaptamer, or a small chemical compound or small organic molecule. Candidate modulators can be natural or synthetic compounds, including, for example, synthetic small molecules, compounds contained in extracts of animal, plant, bacterial or fungal cells, as well as conditioned medium from such cells.

As used herein, the terms “increase” and “decrease” refer to a change in amount of ligand binding to the ORs of the invention and/or cell signalling through ORs of the invention of at least 10%. An “increase” or “decrease” in binding or signalling is preferably measured in response to contacting ORs of the invention with a ligand in the presence of a candidate modulator, wherein the change in binding or signalling is relative to the binding or signalling in the absence of the candidate modulator.

As used herein, the term “small molecule” refers to a compound having a molecular mass of less than 3000 Daltons, preferably less than 2000 or 1500, still more preferably less than 1000, and most preferably less than 600 Daltons. A “small organic molecule” is a small molecule that comprises carbon.

As used herein, the terms “change”, “difference”, “decrease”, or “increase” as applied to e.g., binding or signalling activity or amount of a substance refer to an at least 10% increase or decrease in binding, signalling activity, or for example, level of mRNA, polypeptide or ligand relative to a standard in a given assay.

As used herein, the term “conditions permitting the binding of carboxylic acid to an OR of the invention” refers to conditions of, for example, temperature, salt concentration, pH and protein concentration under which the OR binds a carboxylic acid. Exact binding conditions will vary depending upon the nature of the assay, for example, whether the assay uses viable cells or only a membrane fraction of cells. However, because the ORs of the invention are cell surface proteins, favored conditions will generally include physiological salt (90 mM) and pH (about 7.0 to 8.0). Temperatures for binding can vary from 15° C. to 37° C., but will preferably be between room temperature and about 30° C. The concentration of carboxylic acid in a binding reaction will also vary from about 0.5 to 2 μM, but will preferably be about 1 μM.

As used herein, the term “sample” refers to the source of molecules being tested for the presence of an agent or modulator compound that modulates binding to or signalling activity of an OR of the invention. A sample can be an environmental sample, a natural extract of animal, plant, yeast or bacterial cells or tissues, a clinical sample, a synthetic sample, or a conditioned medium from recombinant cells or from a fermentation process.

As used herein, a “tissue” is an aggregate of cells that perform a particular function in an organism. The term “tissue” as used herein refers to cellular material from a particular physiological region. The cells in a particular tissue can comprise several different cell types. A non-limiting example of this would be brain tissue that further comprises neurons and glial cells, as well as capillary endothelial cells and blood cells, all contained in a given tissue section or sample. In addition to solid tissues, the term “tissue” is also intended to encompass non-solid tissues, such as blood.

As used herein, the term “membrane fraction” refers to a preparation of cellular lipid membranes containing an OR of the invention. As the term is used herein, a “membrane fraction” is distinct from a cellular homogenate, in that at least a portion (i.e., at least 10%, and preferably more) of non-membrane-associated cellular constituents has been removed. The term “membrane associated” refers to those cellular constituents that are either integrated into a lipid membrane or are physically associated with a component that is integrated into a lipid membrane.

As used herein, the term “second messenger assay” preferably comprises the measurement of guanine nucleotide binding or exchange, adenylate cyclase, intra-cellular cAMP, intracellular inositol phosphate, intra-cellular diacylglycerol concentration, arachidonic acid concentration, MAP kinase(s) or tyrosine kinase(s), protein kinase C activity, or reporter gene expression or an aequorin-based assay according to methods known in the art and defined herein.

As used herein, the term “second messenger” refers to a molecule, generated or caused to vary in concentration by the activation of a G-Protein Coupled Receptor that participates in the transduction of a signal from that GPCR. Non-limiting examples of second messengers include cAMP, diacylglycerol, inositol triphosphate, arachidonic acid release, inositol triphosphate and intracellular calcium. The term “change in the level of a second messenger” refers to an increase or decrease of at least 10% in the detected level of a given second messenger relative to the amount detected in an assay performed in the absence of a candidate modulator.

As used herein, the term “aequorin-based assay” refers to an assay for GPCR activity that measures intracellular calcium flux induced by activated GPCRs, wherein intracellular calcium flux is measured by the luminescence of aequorin expressed in the cell.

As used herein, the term “binding” refers to the physical association of a molecule (e.g., a ligand such as a carboxylic acid or an antibody) with a receptor (e.g., OR of this invention). As the term is used herein, binding is “specific” if it occurs with an EC₅₀ or a Kd of 1 mM less, generally in the range of 1 mM to 10 nM For example, binding is specific if the EC₅₀ or Kd is 1 mM, 500 μM, 100 μM, 10 μM, 9.5 μM, 9 μM, 8.5 μM, 8 μM, 7.5 μM, 7 μM, 6.5 μM, 6 μM, 5.5 μM, 5 μM, 4.5 μM, 4 μM, 3.5 μM, 3 μM, 2.5 μM, 2 μM, 1.5 μM, 1 μM, 750 nM, 500 nM, 250 nM or 100 nM or less.

As used herein, the term “EC₅₀,” refers to that concentration of a compound at which a given activity, including binding of a carboxylic acid or other ligand and a functional activity of a OR, is 50% of the maximum for that OR activity measurable using the same assay in the absence of compound. Stated differently, the “EC₅₀” is the concentration of compound that gives 50% activation, when 100% activation is set at the amount of activity that does not increase with the addition of more agonist.

As used herein, the term “saturation” refers to the concentration of a carboxylic acid present in human sweat or other ligand at which further increases in ligand concentration fail to increase the binding of ligand or OR-specific signalling activity.

As used herein, the term “IC₅₀” is the concentration of an antagonist or blocker that reduces the maximal activation of an OR of the invention by 50%.

As used herein, the term “decrease in binding” refers to a decrease of at least 10% in the amount of ligand binding detected in a given assay with a known or suspected modulator of OR of the invention relative to binding detected in an assay lacking that known or suspected modulator.

As used herein, the term “G-Protein coupled receptor,” or “GPCR” refers to a membrane-associated polypeptide with 7 alpha helical transmembrane domains. Functional GPCR's associate with a ligand or agonist and also associate with and activate G-proteins. OR polypeptides of the invention are GPCRs.

As used herein, the term “antibody” is the conventional immunoglobulin molecule, as well as fragments thereof which are also specifically reactive with one of the subject polypeptides. Antibodies can be fragmented using conventional techniques and the fragments screened for utility in the same manner as described herein below for whole antibodies. For example, F(ab)2 fragments can be generated by treating antibody with pepsin. The resulting F(ab)2 fragment can be treated to reduce disulfide bridges to produce Fab fragments. The antibody of the present invention is further intended to include bispecific, single-chain, and chimeric and humanised molecules having affinity for a polypeptide conferred by at least one CDR region of the antibody. In preferred embodiments, the antibody further comprises a label attached thereto and able to be detected, (e.g., the label can be a radioisotope, fluorescent compound, chemiluminescent compound, enzyme, or enzyme co-factor). The antibodies, monoclonal or polyclonal and their hypervariable portion thereof (FAB, FAB″, etc.) as well as the hybridoma cell producing the antibodies are a further aspect of the present invention which find a specific industrial application in the field of diagnostics and monitoring of specific diseases, preferably the ones hereafter described. Inhibitors according to the invention include but are not limited to labeled monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies or hypervariable portions of the antibodies.

As used herein, the term “OR constitutive activity” refers to a measurable activity of an olfactory receptor expressed into a cell that occurs spontaneously without addition of a ligand for the said olfactory receptor.

As used herein, the term “inverse agonist” refers to a molecule that binds to and decreases or suppresses the constitutive activity of an OR.

The invention relates to the discovery that carboxylic acids present in human sweat are natural ligands for a specific groups of olfactory receptors, the OR polypeptides as defined herein. The OR/carboxylic acids interaction is useful for screening assays for agents that modulate such an interaction and thus the function of the OR. This OR/carboxylic acid interaction also provides for the identification of modulators which could be of interest in industry.

Assays for the Identification of Agents that Modulate the Activity of ORs

Agents that modulate the activity of ORs can be identified in a number of ways that take advantage of the interaction of said receptors with carboxylic acids. For example, the ability to reconstitute OR/carboxylic acid binding either in vitro, on cultured cells or in vivo provides a target for identification of agents that disrupt that binding. Assays based on disruption of binding can identify agents, such as small organic molecules, from libraries or collections of such molecules. Alternatively, such assays can identify agents in samples or extracts from natural sources, including plant, fungal, or bacterial extracts or even human tissue samples. Modulators of OR/carboxylic acid binding can then be screened using a binding assay or a functional assay that measures downstream signaling through the said receptor. Both binding assays and functional assays are validated using carboxylic acids.

Another approach that uses the OR/carboxylic acid interaction more directly to identify agents that modulate OR function measures changes in OR downstream signaling induced by candidate agents or candidate modulators. These functional assays can be performed in isolated cell membrane fractions or on cells expressing the receptor on their surfaces.

The following description provides methods for both binding and functional assays based upon the interaction of ORs and carboxylic acids.

A. OR Polypeptides.

Assays using the interaction of OR polypeptides and carboxylic acids require a source of OR polypeptides. The polynucleotide and polypeptide sequence of human ORs are presented herein in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C. The human OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR51I2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5 polynucleotide sequences are also available at GenBank Accession Nos. NM_(—)001005173 (SEQ ID NO.1), NM_(—)001005168 (SEQ ID NO.3), NM_(—)001004052 (SEQ ID NO.5), NM_(—)001004754 (SEQ ID NO.7), NG 033197 (SEQ ID NO.9), NM_(—)001005160 (SEQ ID NO.11), NM_(—)001146033 (SEQ ID NO.13), respectively. The polypeptide sequences are also recorded at accession Nos. Q8NGH7 (SEQ ID NO.2), Q61FG1 (SEQ ID NO.4), Q96RD2 (SEQ ID NO.6), Q9H344 (SEQ ID NO.8), Q8NGJ3 (SEQ ID NO.10), Q9H2C5 (SEQ ID NO.12), and POC7T3 (SEQ ID NO.14) respectively in the Uniprot database.

One skilled in the art can readily amplify an OR sequence from a sample containing mRNA encoding the protein through basic PCR and molecular cloning techniques using primers or probes designed from the known sequences. Also, since OR genes are intron-less genes, a person skilled in the art can amplify an OR sequence from genomic DNA.

The expression of recombinant polypeptides is well known in the art. Those skilled in the art can readily select vectors and expression control sequences for the expression of OR polypeptides according to the invention in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. OR polypeptides are preferably associated with the cell membrane or synthetic liposomes in order to have binding or signaling function. Methods for the preparation of cellular membrane fractions are well known in the art, e.g., the method reported by Hubbard & Cohn, 1975, J. Cell Biol. 64: 461-479, which is incorporated herein by reference. In order to produce membranes comprising OR polypeptides, one can e.g. apply such membrane isolation techniques to cells endogenously or recombinantly expressing one of the OR polypeptides of the invention. Alternatively, OR polypeptides can be integrated into membrane preparations by dilution of detergent solution of the polypeptide (see, e.g., Salamon et al., 1996, Biophys. J. 71:283-294, which is incorporated herein by reference).

B. Carboxylic Acids Present in Sweat.

The structure of such carboxylic acids are well known by a skilled person. In addition, the person skilled in the art may easily derive equivalent acids from said structure and may easily test if said equivalents are able to bind and/or modulate the OR polypeptides. Carboxylic acids may be isolated from natural samples, or chemically synthesized.

Methods which can be used to quantify said acids may be, but are not limited to, a) for extraction and purification: solvent extraction, oil extraction, vapour extraction, CO2 supercritical extraction, liquid chromatography, distillation, gas chromatography; b) for quantifying: gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Said methods are well known in the art.

Carboxylic acids may be used in purified form or used as compositions. The amounts of the acid necessary in a given binding or functional assay according to the invention will vary depending upon the assay, but will generally use 1 μM to 1000 μM of labeled and 10 μM to 10 mM of unlabeled acid per assay. If necessary for a given assay, a carboxylic acid can be labeled by incorporation or addition of radioactive labels as pointed out above.

C. Assays to Identify Modulators of ORs Activity

The discovery that carboxylic acids are ligands of seven ORs belonging to the class 1 olfactory receptor family permits the development of screening assays to identify modulators of ORs activity. The screening assays will have two general approaches.

1) Ligand binding assays, in which cells expressing one or more ORs according to the invention, membrane extracts from such cells, or immobilized lipid membranes comprising one or more ORs according to the invention are exposed to a labeled carboxylic acid known to bind said one or more ORs and a candidate compound. Following incubation, the reaction mixture is measured for specific binding of the labeled carboxylic acid to said ORs. Compounds that interfere with or displace labeled carboxylic acid from the ORs can be identified as modulators, preferably blockers or antagonists of OR activities. Functional analysis can be performed on positive compounds to determine in which of these categories they fit.

Binding of a compound may be classified into 3 main categories: competitive binding, non-competitive binding and uncompetitive binding. A competitive binding compound resembles a second (reference) compound and binds to the same binding pocket of a target molecule (here receptor). Upon addition, the competitive binding compound displaces said second compound from said target. A non-competitive binding compound does not bind to the same binding pocket of the target molecule as a second (reference) compound but may interact with the effect of said second compound on said target molecule. The second compound is not displaced upon addition of the non-competitive binding compound. An uncompetitive-binding compound binds to the target molecule when a second compound is already bound. Cooperative binding means that a compound facilitates the binding of another compound which may be a reference compound. The cooperative effect is thus seen in the analysis of the Kd of said other compound.

2) Functional Assays, in which a Signaling Activity of ORs is Measured.

a) For agonist screening, cells expressing ORs or membranes prepared from them are incubated with a candidate compound, and a signaling activity of ORs is measured. The assays are validated using a carboxylic acid as agonist, and the activity induced by compounds that modulate receptor activity is compared to that induced by the carboxylic acid. An agonist or partial agonist will have a maximal biological activity corresponding to at least 10% of the maximal activity of the carboxylic acid when the agonist or partial agonist is present at 100 μM or less, and preferably will have 50%, 75%, 100% or more, including 2-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold or more activity than the carboxylic acid.

b) For antagonist screening, cells expressing ORs or membranes isolated from them are assayed for signaling activity in the presence of a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate compound. Antagonists will reduce the level of carboxylic acid-stimulated receptor activity by at least 10%, relative to reactions lacking the antagonist.

c) For inverse agonist screening, cells expressing constitutive OR activity or membranes isolated from them are used in a functional assay that measures an activity of the receptor in the absence of carboxylic acid ligands. Inverse agonists are those compounds that reduce the constitutive activity of the OR by at least 10%. Overexpression of OR may lead to constitutive activation. OR can be overexpressed by placing it under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, e.g., the CMV early promoter. Alternatively, certain mutations of conserved GPCR amino acids or amino acid domains tend to lead to constitutive activity. See for example: Kjelsberg et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:1430; McWhinney et al., 2000. J. Biol. Chem. 275:2087; Ren et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:16483; Samama et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:4625; Parma et al., 1993, Nature 365:649; Parma et al., 1998, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 286:85; and Parent et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271:7949.

Ligand Binding and Displacement Assays:

One can use OR polypeptides expressed in a cell, or isolated membranes containing receptor polypeptides, along with a carboxylic acid in order to screen for compounds that inhibit the binding of carboxylic acids to OR polypeptides. When identified in an assay that measures binding or carboxylic acid displacement alone, compounds will have to be subjected to functional testing to determine whether they act as agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists.

For displacement experiments, cells expressing an OR polypeptide (generally 25,000 cells per assay or 1 to 100 μg of membrane extracts) are incubated in binding buffer (e.g., 50 mM Hepes pH 7.4; 1 mM CaCl2; 0.5% Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) Fatty Acid-Free; and 0.5 mM MgCl 2) for 1.5 hrs (at, for example, 27° C.) with labeled carboxylic acid in the presence or in the absence of increasing concentrations of a candidate modulator. To validate and calibrate the assay, control competition reactions using increasing concentrations of unlabeled carboxylic acid can be performed. After incubation, cells are washed extensively, and bound, labeled carboxylic acid is measured as appropriate for the given label (e.g., scintillation counting, enzyme assay, fluorescence, etc.). A decrease of at least 10% in the amount of labeled carboxylic acid bound in the presence of the candidate modulator indicates displacement of binding by the candidate modulator. Candidate modulators are considered to bind specifically in this or other assays described herein if they displace 50% of the labeled carboxylic acid.

Alternatively, binding or displacement of binding can be monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Surface plasmon resonance assays can be used as a quantitative method to measure binding between two molecules by the change in mass near an immobilized sensor caused by the binding or loss of binding of carboxylic acid from the aqueous phase to a OR polypeptide immobilized in a membrane on the sensor. This change in mass is measured as resonance units versus time after injection or removal of the carboxylic acid or candidate modulator and is measured using a Biacore Biosensor (Biacore AB). OR polypeptides can be immobilized on a sensor chip (for example, research grade CM5 chip; Biacore AB) in a thin film lipid membrane according to methods described by Salamon et al. (Salamon et al., 1996, Biophys J. 71: 283-294; Salamon et al., 2001, Biophys. J. 80: 1557-1567; Salamon et al., 1999, Trends Biochem. Sci. 24: 213-219, each of which is incorporated herein by reference). Sarrio et al. demonstrated that SPR can be used to detect ligand binding to the GPCR A(1) adenosine receptor immobilized in a lipid layer on the chip (Sarrio et al., 2000, Mol. Cell. Biol. 20: 5164-5174, incorporated herein by reference). Conditions for carboxylic acid binding to an OR of the invention in an SPR assay can be fine-tuned by one skilled in the art using the conditions reported by Sarrio et al. as a starting point.

SPR can assay for modulators of binding in at least two ways. First, a carboxylic acid can be pre-bound to immobilized OR polypeptide, followed by injection of the candidate modulator at approximately 10 μl/min flow rate and a concentration ranging from 1 nM to 1000 μM, preferably about 100 μM. Displacement of the bound carboxylic acid can be quantified, permitting detection of modulator binding. Alternatively, the membrane-bound carboxylic polypeptide can be pre-incubated with a candidate modulator and challenged with a carboxylic acid. A difference in carboxylic acid binding to the OR exposed to the modulator relative to that on a chip not pre-exposed to the modulator will demonstrate binding. In either assay, a decrease of 10% or more in the amount of carboxylic acid bound is in the presence of candidate modulator, relative to the amount of carboxylic acid bound in the absence of candidate modulator indicates that the candidate modulator inhibits the interaction of the OR and the carboxylic acid. A Biacore system can be plugged to a system identifying candidate modulator such as mass spectrometry, or gas chromatography.

Another method of measuring inhibition of binding of carboxylic acid to OR uses fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET is a quantum mechanical phenomenon that occurs between a fluorescence donor (D) and a fluorescence acceptor (A) in close proximity to each other (usually <100 A of separation) if the emission spectrum of D overlaps with the excitation spectrum of A. The molecules to be tested, e.g., a carboxylic acid and an OR polypeptide, are labeled with a complementary pair of donor and acceptor fluorophores. While close to each other due to the OR/carboxylic acid interaction, fluorescence emitted upon excitation of the donor fluorophore will have a different wavelength from that emitted in response to the excitation wavelength when the molecules are not bound, thus allowing quantification of bound versus unbound polypeptides by measurement of emission intensity at each wavelength. Donor/acceptor pairs of fluorophores with which to label the target molecules are well known in the art.

A variation on FRET uses fluorescence quenching to monitor molecular interactions. One molecule in the interacting pair can be labeled with a fluorophore, and the other with a molecule that quenches the fluorescence of the fluorophore when brought into close apposition with it. A change in fluorescence upon excitation is indicative of a change in the association of the molecules tagged with the fluorophore: quencher pair. Generally, an increase in fluorescence of the labeled OR polypeptide is indicative that carboxylic acid bearing the quencher has been displaced. For quenching assays, a 10% or greater increase in the intensity of fluorescent emission in samples containing a candidate modulator, relative to samples without the candidate modulator, indicates that the candidate modulator inhibits OR/carboxylic acid interaction.

Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) is a system for monitoring intermolecular interactions in vivo. The assay is based on non-radiative energy transfer between fusion proteins containing Renilla luciferase (Rluc) and e.g. Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YPF) or Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The BRET signal is generated by the oxidation of a coelenterazine derivative substrate. Said system may apply a cell-permeable and non-toxic coelenterazine derivative substrate DeepBleuC™ (DBC) and a mutant of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) as acceptor. When the donor and acceptor are in close proximity the energy resulting from the catalytic degradation of the DBC is transferred from Rluc to GFP which will then emit fluorescence at its characteristic wavelength. This method allows higher distance between the two tested molecules and is fluorophore-angle independent.

In addition to the surface plasmon resonance, FRET and BRET methods, fluorescence polarization measurement is useful for quantification of carboxylic acid-receptor binding. The fluorescence polarization value for a fluorescently-tagged molecule depends on the rotational correlation time or tumbling rate. Protein complexes, such as those formed by an OR associating with a fluorescently labeled carboxylic acid, have higher polarization values than uncomplexed, labeled carboxylic acid. The inclusion of a candidate inhibitor of the OR/carboxylic acid interaction results in a decrease in fluorescence polarization, relative to a mixture without the candidate inhibitor, if the candidate inhibitor disrupts or inhibits the interaction of the OR with the carboxylic acid. Fluorescence polarization is well suited for the identification of small molecules that disrupt the formation of polypeptide or protein complexes. A decrease of 10% or more in fluorescence polarization in samples containing a candidate modulator, relative to fluorescence polarization in a sample lacking the candidate modulator, indicates that the candidate modulator inhibits the OR/carboxylic acid interaction.

Another alternative for monitoring OR/carboxylic acid interactions uses a biosensor assay. ICS biosensors have been described by AMBRI (Australian Membrane Biotechnology Research Institute; http//www.ambri.com.au/). In this technology, the association of molecules such as an OR and a carboxylic acid, is coupled to the closing of gramacidin-facilitated ion channels in suspended membrane bilayers and thus to a measurable change in the admittance (similar to impedence) of the biosensor. This approach is linear over six orders of magnitude of admittance change and is ideally suited for large scale, high throughput screening of small molecule combinatorial libraries. A 10% or greater change (increase or decrease) in admittance in a sample containing a candidate modulator, relative to the admittance of a sample lacking the candidate modulator, indicates that the candidate modulator inhibits the interaction of OR and carboxylic acid.

It is important to note that in assays of acid-protein interaction, it is possible that a modulator of the interaction need not necessarily interact directly with the domain(s) of the proteins that physically interact. It is also possible that a modulator will interact at a location removed from the site of acid-protein interaction and cause, for example, a conformational change in the OR polypeptides. Modulators (inhibitors or agonists) that act in this manner are nonetheless of interest as agents to modulate the activity of ORs.

Any of the binding assays described can be used to determine the presence of an agent in a sample, e.g., a tissue sample, that binds to OR molecule, or that affects the binding of carboxylic acid to ORs. To do so, OR polypeptides are reacted with carboxylic acid or another ligand in the presence or in the absence of the sample, and carboxylic acid or ligand binding is measured as appropriate for the binding assay being used. A decrease of 10% or more in the binding of carboxylic acid or other ligand indicates that the sample contains an agent that modulates carboxylic acid or ligand binding to OR polypeptides.

Proteins Chips

The methods of the present invention may be applied on protein chips. Said protein chip may be, but is not limited to, a glass slide or a nitrocellulose membrane. Array-based methods for protein chips are well known in the art. The protein arrays preferably comprise one or more OR polypeptides according to the invention or fragments thereof that are responsible for the binding with carboxylic acids. The protein chip preferably comprises all 70R polypeptides according to the invention, or fragments thereof that are responsible for the binding with carboxylic acids.

Functional Assays of Receptor Activity

i. GTPase/GTP Binding Assays:

For GPCRs such as OR polypeptides, a measure of receptor activity is the binding of GTP by cell membranes containing receptors. In the method described by Traynor and Nahorski, 1995, Mol. Pharmacol. 47: 848-854, incorporated herein by reference, one essentially measures G-protein coupling to membranes by measuring the binding of labeled GTP to the membrane. For GTP binding assays, membranes isolated from cells expressing the receptor are incubated in a buffer containing 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, and 10 mM MgCl2, 80 μM 355-GTPγS and 3 μM GDP. The assay mixture is incubated for 60 minutes at 30° C., after which unbound labeled GTP is removed by filtration onto GF/B filters. Bound, labeled GTP is measured by liquid scintillation counting. In order to assay for modulation of carboxylic acid-induced OR activity, membranes prepared from cells expressing an OR polypeptide are mixed with a carboxylic acid, and the GTP binding assay is performed in the presence and in the absence of a candidate modulator of OR activity. A decrease of 10% or more in labeled GTP binding as measured by scintillation counting in an assay of this kind containing the candidate modulator, relative to an assay without the modulator, indicates that the candidate modulator inhibits OR activity.

A similar GTP-binding assay can be performed without the carboxylic acid to identify compounds that act as agonists. In this case, the carboxylic acid-stimulated GTP binding is used as a standard. A compound is considered an agonist if it induces at least 50% of the level of GTP binding induced by the carboxylic acid when the compound is present at 1 mM or less, and preferably will induce a level the same as or higher than that induced by the carboxylic acid.

GTPase activity is measured by incubating the membranes containing an OR polypeptide with gamma-32P-GTP. Active GTPase will release the label as inorganic phosphate, which is detected by separation of free inorganic phosphate in a 5% suspension of activated charcoal in 20 mM H₃PO₄, followed by scintillation counting. Controls include assays using membranes isolated from cells not expressing OR (mock-transfected), in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of the candidate compound.

In order to assay for the effect of a candidate modulator on OR-regulated GTPase activity, membrane samples are incubated with carboxylic acid, with and without the modulator, followed by the GTPase assay. A change (increase or decrease) of 10% or more in the level of GTP binding or GTPase activity relative to samples without modulator is indicative of carboxylic modulation by a candidate modulator.

ii. Downstream Pathway Activation Assays:

a. Calcium flux—The Aequorin-Based Assay.

The aequorin assay takes advantage of the responsiveness of mitochondrial or cytoplasmic apoaequorin to intracellular calcium release or calcium flux (entrance) induced by the activation of GPCRs (Stables et al., 1997, Anal. Biochem. 252:115-126; Detheux et al., 2000, J. Exp. Med., 192 1501-1508; both of which are incorporated herein by reference). Briefly, OR-expressing clones are transfected to coexpress mitochondrial or cytoplasmic apoaequorin and G-alpha-16 or G-olf. Cells are incubated with 5 μM Coelenterazine H or derivates (Molecular Probes) for 4 hours at room temperature, washed in DMEM-F12 culture medium and resuspended at a concentration of 0.5×106 cells/ml. Cells are then mixed with test agonist peptides and light emission by the aequorin is recorded with a luminometer for 30 sec. Results are expressed as Relative Light Units (RLU). Controls include assays using membranes isolated from cells not expressing C356 (mock-transfected), in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of the candidate compound.

Aequorin activity or intracellular calcium levels are “changed” if light intensity increases or decreases by 10% or more in a sample of cells, expressing an OR polypeptide and treated with a candidate modulator, relative to a sample of cells expressing the OR polypeptide but not treated with the candidate modulator or relative to a sample of cells not expressing the OR polypeptide (mock-transfected cells) but treated with the candidate modulator.

When performed in the absence of a carboxylic acid, the assay can be used to identify an agonist or inverse agonist of an OR activity. When the assay is performed in the presence of a carboxylic acid, it can be used to assay for an antagonist.

1) a Fluo3, 4, Fura2, and Calcium3 (Molecular Device) Based-assay.

Fluorescence-based assays take advantage of calcium fluxes triggered by receptor activation: either calcium entrance through CNG for instance or calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum. Some fluorophores including but not limited to Fluo3, Fluo4 and Fura2 (Molecular Probes) and Calcium3 kit series (Molecular Device) are known to bind calcium. Such fluorophore-calcium complexes emit fluorescence at specific wavelengths. Thereby, upon activation of a G-protein coupled receptor, calcium released from endoplasmic reticulum or entered through CNG binds to fluorophore leading to specific fluorescence emission. OR-overexpressing cells are incubated for 30 to 60 minutes with a solution of 1 to 8 μM fluorophore at 37° C. After thorough washing with saline buffer, 50 μl of the same buffer is poured into each well containing cells (6 to 1536). Tested agonists are then injected into such loaded cells and activation of an OR is followed by fluorescence measurement.

Intracellular calcium levels are “changed” if fluorescence intensity increases or decreases by 10% or more in a sample of cells, expressing an OR polypeptide and treated with a candidate modulator, relative to a sample of cells expressing an OR polypeptide but not treated with the candidate modulator or relative to a sample of cells not expressing an OR polypeptide (mock-transfected cells) but treated with the candidate modulator.

2) Depolarization/Hyperpolarization Membrane Assay (DiBac Fluorophore for Instance).

The principle of this assay is to follow depolarization of the cell membrane. The anionic probe DiBAC4(3) partitions between intra- and extracellular compartments in a membrane potential-dependent manner. With increasing membrane potential (depolarization), the probe further partitions into the cell resulting in an increase of fluorescence. Conversely, hyperpolarization leads to a decrease of fluorescence due to dye extrusion.

The DiBAC4(3) probe is excited with a wavelength of 488 nm, and emits at a wavelength of 540 nm.

On the day of the experiment, add the glucose to the assay buffer (saline buffer) to a final concentration of 10 mM and the DiBAC4(3) probe to a final concentration of 5 μM. Maintain the assay buffer at 37° C. Remove the cell culture medium and rinse twice each well containing OR-overexpressing cells with 200 μl of pre-heated assay buffer. Place 180 μl of Assay buffer containing DiBAC4(3) and incubate the cells for 30 min at the appropriate temperature. Cell plates will be ready for assay after these 30 mins. incubation. Collect baseline for 2 mins. prior any addition. Add 20 μl of candidate modulators to the appropriate well and collect the data for an additional 25 mins.

Membrane polarization is “changed” if fluorescence intensity increases or decreases by 10% or more in a sample of cells, expressing an OR polypeptide and treated with a candidate modulator, relative to a sample of cells expressing an OR polypeptide but not treated with the candidate modulator or relative to a sample of cells not expressing an OR polypeptide (mock-transfected cells) but treated with the candidate modulator.

3) Melanophore assay. The melanophore assay is a color-based assay. Basically cells used for this assay are derived from skin of the frog Xenopus Laevis. These immortalized cells contain melanosomes, which are organelles containing dark pigment. Activation of endogenous or recombinant GPCR that trigger activation of adenylate cyclase or phospholipase C lead to melanosome dispersion and therefore cell darkening. Alternatively, a GPCR that inhibits adenylate cyclase or phospholipase C leads to cell lightening. Thereby, instead of measuring concentrations of second messenger, one can easily pinpoint hit observing cell coloration change. This color change can easily be quantified on a microplate reader measuring absorbance at 650 nM or by examination on a video imaging system.

b. Adenylate Cyclase Assay:

Assays for adenylate cyclase activity are described by Kenimer & Nirenberg, 1981, Mol. Pharmacol. 20: 585-591, incorporated herein by reference. That assay is a modification of the assay taught by Solomon et al., 1974, Anal. Biochem. 58: 541-548, also incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, 100 μl reactions contain 50 mM Tris-Hcl (pH 7.5), 5 mM MgCl2, 20 mM creatine phosphate (disodium salt), 10 units (71 μg of protein) of creatine phosphokinase, 1 mM α-32P-ATP (tetrasodium salt, 2 μCi), 0.5 mM cyclic AMP, G-3H-labeled cyclic AMP (approximately 10,000 cpm), 0.5 mM Ro20-1724, 0.25% ethanol, and 50-200 μg of protein homogenate to be tested (i.e., homogenate from cells expressing or not expressing an OR polypeptide, treated or not treated with carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator). Reaction mixtures are generally incubated at 37° C. for 6 minutes. Following incubation, reaction mixtures are deproteinized by the addition of 0.9 ml of cold 6% trichloroacetic acid. Tubes are centrifuged at 1800×g for 20 minutes and each supernatant solution is added to a Dowex AG50W-X4 column. The cAMP fraction from the column is eluted with 4 ml of 0.1 mM imidazole-HCl (pH 7.5) into a counting vial. Assays should be performed in triplicate. Control reactions should also be performed using protein homogenate from cells that do not express an OR polypeptide.

Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators

According to the invention, adenylate cyclase activity is “changed” if it increases or decreases by 10% or more in a sample taken from cells treated with a candidate modulator of OR activity, relative to a similar sample of cells not treated with the candidate modulator or relative to a sample of cells not expressing an OR polypeptide (mock-transfected cells) but treated with the candidate modulator. Alternatively, a decrease of activity by 10% or more by the candidate modulator of OR polypeptides in a sample treated with a reference compound may be tested.

c. cAMP Assay:

Intracellular cAMP is measured using a cAMP radioimmunoassay (RIA) or cAMP binding protein according to methods widely known in the art. For example, Horton & Baxendale, 1995, Methods Mol. Biol. 41: 91-105, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an RIA for cAMP.

A number of kits for the measurement of cAMP are commercially available, such as the High Efficiency Fluorescence Polarization-based homogeneous assay marketed by LJL Biosystems and NEN Life Science Products. Control reactions should be performed using extracts of mock-transfected cells to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators.

Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR polypeptide, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators

The level of cAMP is “changed” if the level of cAMP detected in cells, expressing an OR polypeptide and treated with a candidate modulator of OR activity (or in extracts of such cells), using the RIA-based assay of Horton & Baxendale, 1995, supra, increases or decreases by at least 10% relative to the cAMP level in similar cells not treated with the candidate modulator.

d. Phospholipid Breakdown, DAG Production and Inositol Triphosphate Levels:

Receptors that activate the breakdown of phospholipids can be monitored for changes due to the activity of known or suspected modulators of an OR by monitoring phospholipid breakdown, and the resulting production of second messengers DAG and/or inositol triphosphate (IP3). Methods of measuring each of these are described in Phospholipid Signaling Protocols, edited by Ian M. Bird. Totowa, N.J., Humana Press, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference. See also Rudolph et al., 1999, J. Biol. Chem. 274: 11824-11831, incorporated herein by reference, which also describes an assay for phosphatidylinositol breakdown. Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR, treated or not treated with carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators.

According to the invention, phosphatidylinositol breakdown, and diacylglycerol and/or inositol triphosphate levels are “changed” if they increase or decrease by at least 10% in a sample from cells expressing an OR polypeptide and treated with a candidate modulator in the presence or in the absence of carboxylic acid, relative to the level observed in a sample from cells expressing a carboxylic polypeptide that is not treated with the candidate modulator.

e. PKC Activation Assays:

Growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases tend to signal via a pathway involving activation of Protein Kinase C(PKC), which is a family of phospholipid- and calcium-activated protein kinases. PKC activation ultimately results in the transcription of an array of proto-oncogene transcription factor-encoding genes, including c-fos, c-myc and c-jun, proteases, protease inhibitors, including collagenase type I and plasminogen activator inhibitor, and adhesion molecules, including intracellular adhesion molecule I (ICAM I). Assays designed to detect increases in gene products induced by PKC can be used to monitor PKC activation and thereby receptor activity. In addition, activity of receptors that signal via PKC can be monitored through the use of reporter gene constructs driven by the control sequences of genes activated by PKC activation. This type of reporter gene-based assay is discussed in more detail below.

For a more direct measure of PKC activity, the method of Kikkawa et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 13341, incorporated herein by reference, can be used. This assay measures phosphorylation of a PKC substrate peptide, which is subsequently separated by binding to phosphocellulose paper. This PKC assay system can be used to measure activity of purified kinase, or the activity in crude cellular extracts. Protein kinase C sample can be diluted in 20 mM HEPES/2 mM DTT immediately prior to assay.

The substrate for the assay is the peptide Ac-FKKSFKL-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 15), derived from the myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate protein (MARCKS). The Km of the enzyme for this peptide is approximately 50 μM. Other basic, protein kinase C-selective peptides known in the art can also be used, at a concentration of at least 2-3 times their Km. Cofactors required for the assay include calcium, magnesium, ATP, phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol. Depending upon the intent of the user, the assay can be performed to determine the amount of PKC present (activating conditions) or the amount of active PCK present (non-activating conditions). For most purposes according to the invention, non-activating conditions will be used, such that the PKC that is active in the sample when it is isolated is measured, rather than measuring the PKC that can be activated. For non-activating conditions, calcium is omitted in the assay in favor of EGTA.

The assay is performed in a mixture containing 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 1-2 mM DTT, 5 mM MgCl2, 100 μM ATP, ˜1 μCi γ-32P-ATP, 100 μg/ml peptide substrate (˜100 μM), 140 μM/3.8 μM phosphatidylserine/diacylglycerol membranes, and 100 μM calcium (or most preferably 500 μM EGTA). 48 μl of sample, diluted in 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 2 mM DTT is used in a final reaction volume of 80 μl. Reactions are performed at 30° C. for 5-10 minutes, followed by addition of 25 μl of a solution containing 100 mM ATP and 100 mM EDTA with a pH value of 8.0, which stops the reactions.

After the reaction is stopped, a portion (85 μl) of each reaction is spotted onto a Whatman P81 cellulose phosphate filter, followed by washes: four times 500 ml of 0.4% phosphoric acid, (5-10 min. per wash); and a final wash in 500 ml 95% EtOH, for 2-5 min. Bound radioactivity is measured by scintillation counting. Specific activity (cpm/nmol) of the labeled ATP is determined by spotting a sample of the reaction onto P81 paper and counting without washing. Units of PKC activity, defined as nmol phosphate transferred per min, are calculated as follows: The activity, in UNITS (nmol/min) is: =_(cpm on paper)×(105 μl total/85 μl spotted)_(assay time, min)(specific activity of ATP cpm/nmol).

An alternative assay can be performed using a Protein Kinase C Assay Kit sold by PanVera (Cat. # P2747).

Assays are performed on extracts from cells expressing an OR polypeptide, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators.

According to the invention, PKC activity is “changed” by a candidate modulator when the units of PKC measured by either assay described above increase or decrease by at least 10%, in extracts from cells expressing an OR and treated with a candidate modulator, relative to a reaction performed on a similar sample from cells not treated with a candidate modulator.

f. PKA Activation Assays

PKA activity can be assayed using any of several kits available commercially, for example from molecular device IMAP PKA assay kit, or from promega ProFluor PKA assay kit.

Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators

PKA activity is “changed” if the level of activity is increased or decreased by 10% or more in a sample from cells, expressing an OR polypeptide, treated with a candidate modulator relative to PKA kinase activity in a sample from similar cells not treated with the candidate modulator.

g. Kinase Assays:

MAP kinase activity can be assayed using any of several kits available commercially, for example, the p38 MAP Kinase assay kit sold by New England Biolabs (Cat #9820) or the FlashPlate™ MAP Kinase assays sold by Perkin-Elmer Life Sciences.

Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators

MAP Kinase activity is “changed” if the level of activity is increased or decreased by 10% or more in a sample from cells, expressing an OR polypeptide, treated with a candidate modulator relative to MAP kinase activity in a sample from similar cells not treated with the candidate modulator.

Direct assays for tyrosine kinase activity using known synthetic or natural tyrosine kinase substrates and labeled phosphate are well known, as are similar assays for other types of kinases (e.g., Ser/Thr kinases). Kinase assays can be performed with both purified kinases and crude extracts prepared from cells expressing an OR polypeptide, treated with or without a carboxylic acid, with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators. Substrates can be either full length protein or synthetic peptides representing the substrate. Pinna & Ruzzene (1996, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1314: 191-225, incorporated herein by reference) list a number of phosphorylation substrate sites useful for measuring kinase activities. A number of kinase substrate peptides are commercially available. One that is particularly useful is the “Src-related peptide,” (RRLIEDAEYAARG (SEQ ID NO: 16); available from Sigma # A7433), which is a substrate for many receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Because the assay described below requires binding of peptide substrates to filters, the peptide substrates should have a net positive charge to facilitate binding. Generally, peptide substrates should have at least 2 basic residues and a free amino terminus. Reactions generally use a peptide concentration of 0.7-1.5 mM.

Assays are generally carried out in a 25 μl volume comprising 5 μl of 5× kinase buffer (5 mg/mL BSA, 150 mM Tris-Cl (pH 7.5), 100 mM MgCl2; depending upon the exact kinase assayed for, MnCl₂ can be used in place of or in addition to the MgCl₂), 5 μl of 1.0 mM ATP (0.2 mM final concentration), gamma-32P-ATP (100-500 cpm/pmol), 3 μl of 10 mM peptide substrate (1.2 mM final concentration), cell extract containing kinase to be tested (cell extracts used for kinase assays should contain a phosphatase inhibitor (e.g. 0.1-1 mM sodium orthovanadate)), and H₂O to 25 μl. Reactions are performed at 30° C., and are initiated by the addition of the cell extract.

Kinase reactions are performed for 30 seconds to about 30 minutes, followed by the addition of 45 μl of ice-cold 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Samples are spun for 2 minutes in a microcentrifuge, and 35 μl of the supernatant is spotted onto Whatman P81 cellulose phosphate filter circles. The filters are washed three times with 500 ml cold 0.5% phosphoric acid, followed by one wash with 200 ml of acetone at room temperature for 5 minutes. Filters are dried and incorporated ³²P is measured by scintillation counting. The specific activity of ATP in the kinase reaction (e.g., in cpm/pmol) is determined by spotting a small sample (2-5 μl) of the reaction onto a P81 filter circle and counting directly, without washing. Counts per minute obtained in the kinase reaction (minus blank) are then divided by the specific activity to determine the moles of phosphate transferred in the reaction.

Assays should be performed using cells or extracts of cells expressing an OR, treated or not treated with a carboxylic acid with or without a candidate modulator. Control reactions should be performed using mock-transfected cells, or extracts from them in order to exclude possible non-specific effects of some candidate modulators.

Tyrosine kinase activity is “changed” if the level of kinase activity is increased or decreased by 10% or more in a sample from cells, expressing an OR polypeptide, treated with a candidate modulator relative to kinase activity in a sample from similar cells not treated with the candidate modulator.

h. Transcriptional Reporters for Downstream Pathway Activation:

The intracellular signal initiated by binding of a modulator to a receptor, e.g., an OR polypeptide of the invention, sets in motion a cascade of intracellular events, the ultimate consequence of which is a rapid and detectable change in the transcription and/or translation of one or more genes. The activity of the receptor can therefore be monitored by measuring the expression of a reporter gene driven by control sequences responsive to OR activation.

As used herein “promoter” refers to the transcriptional control elements necessary for receptor-mediated regulation of gene expression, including not only the basal promoter, but also any enhancers or transcription-factor binding sites necessary for receptor-regulated expression. By selecting promoters that are responsive to the intracellular signals resulting from agonist binding, and operatively linking the selected promoters to reporter genes whose transcription, translation or ultimate activity is readily detectable and measurable, the transcription based reporter assay provides a rapid indication of whether a given receptor is activated.

Reporter genes such as luciferase, Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase (CAT), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), beta-lactamase or beta-galactosidase are well known in the art, as are assays for the detection of their products.

Genes particularly well suited for monitoring receptor activity are the “immediate early” genes, which are rapidly induced, generally within minutes of contact between the receptor and the effector protein or ligand. The induction of immediate early gene transcription does not require the synthesis of new regulatory proteins. In addition to rapid responsiveness to ligand binding, characteristics of preferred genes useful to make reporter constructs include: low or undetectable expression in quiescent cells; induction that is transient and independent of new protein synthesis; subsequent shut-off of transcription requires new protein synthesis; and mRNAs transcribed from these genes have a short half-life. It is preferred, but not necessary that a transcriptional control element have all of these properties for it to be useful.

In order to assay OR activity with carboxylic acid-responsive transcriptional reporter construct, cells that stably express an OR polypeptide are stably transfected with the reporter construct. To screen for agonists, untreated cells are exposed to candidate modulators, or exposed to a carboxylic acid, and expression of the reporter is measured. The carboxylic acid-treated cultures serve as a standard for the level of transcription induced by a known agonist. An increase of at least 10% in reporter expression in the presence of a candidate modulator compared to reporter expression in the absence of any modulator indicates that the candidate is a modulator of OR activity. An agonist will induce at least as much, and preferably the same amount or more reporter expression than the carboxylic acid. Partial agonists may activate the receptor less compared to the carboxylic acid. This approach can also be used to screen for inverse agonists where cells express an OR polypeptide at levels such that there is an elevated basal activity of the reporter in the absence of carboxylic acid or other agonists. A decrease in reporter activity of 10% or more in the presence of a candidate modulator, relative to its absence, indicates that the compound is an inverse agonist.

To screen for antagonists, the cells expressing an OR and carrying the reporter construct are exposed to a carboxylic acid (or another agonist) in the presence and absence of a candidate modulator. A decrease of 10% or more in reporter expression in the presence of candidate modulator, relative to the absence of the candidate modulator, indicates that the candidate is an antagonist of OR activity.

Controls for transcription assays include cells not expressing an OR of the invention but carrying the reporter construct, as well as cells with a promoter less reporter construct. Compounds that are identified as modulators of OR-regulated transcription should also be analyzed to determine whether they affect transcription driven by other regulatory sequences and by other receptors, in order to determine the specificity and spectrum of their activity.

The transcriptional reporter assay, and most cell-based assays, are well suited for screening chemical libraries of chemical compounds for those that modulate OR activity. The libraries can be, for example, libraries from natural sources, e.g., plants, animals, bacteria, etc.

Candidate Modulators Useful According to the Invention

Candidate modulators can be screened from large libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. Numerous means are currently used for random and directed synthesis of various kinds of compounds. Synthetic compound libraries are commercially available from a number of companies including, for example, Maybridge Chemical Co. (Trevillet, Cornwall, UK), Comgenex (Princeton, N.J.), Brandon Associates (Merrimack, N.H.), and Microsource (New Milford, Conn.). A rare chemical library is available from Aldrich (Milwaukee, Wis.). Combinatorial libraries of small organic molecules are available and can be prepared. Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available from e.g., Pan Laboratories (Bothell, Wash.) or MycoSearch (NC), or are readily produceable by methods well known in the art. Additionally, natural and synthetically produced libraries and compounds are readily modified through conventional chemical, physical, and biochemical means.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Experimental Procedure

Cell Culture and Cell Line Generation

Cells were maintained in minimal essential medium (EMEM, Lonza) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (M10). HEK293T-RTP1A1/RTP2 cells were generated by transfecting HEK293T with an expression vector containing the sequences of the chaperone proteins RTP1A1 and RTP2 and a resistance gene to puromycin, using Lipofectamine 2000. A recombinant cell population was selected by adding 10 μg/ml of puromycin into the culture medium. Monoclonal populations were further obtained by limit dilution procedure. Briefly, a cell suspension was diluted to contain 1 cell per ml and this dilution was dispatched in poly-D-lysine-coated 96 wells plates (200 μl of dilution per well). After 5 days of culture, the presence and number of cell colonies per well was checked under a phase contrast microscopic. After 5 additional days of culture, wells containing a single colony were harvested and each collected population was amplified independently.

Odorant Molecule Dilution

Odorant molecules were diluted at a concentration of 1 mole/liter (M) into dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to generate stock solutions.

For screening experiments, stock solutions of odorant molecules were diluted in EMEM disposed in 96-well plates. Plates containing the tested molecules (1 molecule/well) at a concentration of 2 mM, at a concentration of 632 μM and at a concentration of 200 μM were prepared.

For concentration-response analysis, serial dilutions of the tested molecules were prepared from stock solutions in EMEM plated into 96-well plates.

Luciferase Assay.

For the initial deorphanisation screening and dose-response analysis, a Luciferase-based gene reporter assay (Promega, Leiden, The Nederlands) was used as described in Saito et al. (2004). Briefly, cells were platted on poly-D-lysine-coated 96-well plates (BD Bioscience, Erembodegem-Dorp, Belgium) and transfected with a plasmid containing the CRE-luciferase and a plasmid containing the olfactory receptor. Sixteen hours after transfection, the culture medium was replaced by serum-free EMEM containing the tested ligand at a determined concentration. After four hours of incubation at 37° C. degree, cells were lysed and processed for luminescence measurement according to the manufacturer's protocols. Luminescene emission was recorded on a Spectra Max M5 reader (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Results were expressed as percentage of the response induced by 10 μM of the adenylate cyclase activator Forskolin.

Example 1 Screening of Odorant Molecule Libraries

Odorant molecule libraries containing carboxylic acids and other types of molecules were used to identify activators of the seven ORs of the invention. The deorphanisation campaign was performed on the seven olfactory receptors with a series of 148 odorant molecules. Sixteen carboxylic acids present in sweat were included within the 148 tested odorants. Black squares correspond to a response of a receptor to one odorant molecule. The part of the table corresponding to carboxylic acids has been boxed in bold. The seven tested class 1 receptors have all responded specifically and exclusively to carboxylic acids.

Each molecule was tested at 3 different concentrations (1 mM, 316 μM, 100 μM). The different molecules of the tested libraries were disposed at the same concentration into 96 well plates (1 well/molecule) containing cells expressing the receptor of interest. The activity of the tested molecules was measured using the lucifierase activity as explained above. The median luciferase activity induced by the tested molecules and the associated standard deviation were determined. Putatively active molecules (hits) were defined as molecules inducing a luciferase activity higher or equal to the median+2 standard deviations.

Table 2 summarizes the results of this deorphanization. Each OR-activating molecule couple is indicated by a black square at the intersection of the column corresponding to the receptor and the row corresponding to the molecule. The results clearly show that the seven ORs of the invention are activated by carboxylic acids which are present in human sweat.

The 7 ORs of the invention were further included in a large screening campaign aiming to test different molecule libraries that do not contain carboxylic acids. These screenings were performed as described above. A total of 823 molecules were tested on OR52L1, OR52E8, OR51I2, OR52A5 and OR56A6. A total of 592 molecules were tested on OR52B2 and a total of 777 were tested on OR52E1. The complete list of the tested molecules is given in Table 3. None of the molecules gave a hit on any of the 7 ORs of the invention. This result confirms the very high selectivity of the 7 ORs of the invention to carboxylic acid ligands.

The 7 tested ORs from class 1, (corresponding to the ORs of the invention, namely: OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR51I2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5) were therefore found to respond specifically and exclusively to carboxylic acids.

Example 2 Dose-Response Analysis of Ligand-OR Interaction

The hits were validated by concentration-response analysis. Semi-logarithmic serial dilutions of hit molecules, from 1 mM to 316 nM, were tested on the responding ORs using the luciferase assay as described above.

Results are given in Table 2. Full results are given in FIG. 2A-FIG. 2J.

We observed that each of the 7 ORs tested respond to at least one molecule containing a carboxylic function. A careful comparison of these activators with the known carboxylic acids occurring in human sweat revealed that each of the receptors responds to at least one carboxylic acid released in sweat. Some of these acids, such as hexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 4-ethyloctanoic acid, (Zeng et al. 1991; J. Chem. Ecolog. Vol. 17 pp 1469-1492; Natsch et al. 2006 Chem. & Biodiv. Vol. 3 pp 1-20) are known to be important promoters of human sweat malodor.

These 7 ORs of the invention are therefore involved in the perception of sweat malodor elicited by carboxylic acids and constitute valuable candidate receptors for the identification of antagonists and/or blockers that would block the perception of malodor.

TABLE 2 Activation of ORs according to the invention by carboxylic acids originating from sweat.

TABLE 3 Complete list of odorant molecules tested on the 7 ORs of the invention. gamma Dodecalactone (natural) Hexyl isobutyrate 3-Acetyl-2,5-dimethylthiophene Acetaldehyde ethyl phenylethyl acetal Methyl isoeugenol 4-Isopropylcyclohexanol Ethyl maltol Prenyl benzoate 2-Methyl-3-(p-methoxyphenyl)propanal (+)-Camphene Ethyl acetoacetate ethylene glycol ketal Acetanisole 4,5-Dihydro-3(2H)thiophenone Styrene Benzyl alcohol Benzaldehyde Benzyl mercaptan 2-Ethylpyridine alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl alcohol Dimethyl benzyl carbinyl butyrate alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde Methyl phenylacetate Phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal Diphenyl ether alpha-Amylcinnamyl alcohol alpha-Hexylcinnamaldehyde p-Tolyl phenylacetate Isobutyl phenylacetate Benzyl phenylacetate Anisyl phenylacetate Triacetin 2-Methyl-4-phenyl-2-butanol Methyl cinnamate Benzyl isobutyrate Ethyl cinnamate Benzyl butyrate Benzyl cinnamate Phenethyl acetate Benzyl ether Phenethyl cinnamate Cinnamyl acetate 2-Phenoxyethyl isobutyrate 1-Bromo-2-phenylethylene 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(3-methylphenyl)propanol 2-Methyl-3-(p-isopropylphenyl)propionaldehyde p-Tolylacetaldehyde 1-Phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentanol Anisyl acetate p-Propyl anisole gamma-Octalactone Cinnamic alcohol Cinnamaldehyde gamma-Nonalactone 2-Cyclohexyliden-2-phenylacetonitrile Phenethyl formate gamma-Undecalactone (−)-α-Terpineol 4-Methylanisole Ethyl 6-acetoxyhexanoate Anisyl alcohol 3-Decen-2-one gamma-Heptalactone Ethyl propionate Diethyl malonate Ethyl butyrate Acetal Geranyl acetate Ethylene brassylate omega-Pentadecalactone Butyl laurate 3,7-Dimethyl-1-octanol Citronellol (±)-Citronellal Geraniol Nerol Isoamyl butyrate Ethyl heptanoate Ethyl octanoate p-Cresol Dimethyl succinate 2,6-Dimethyl-5-heptenal 1-Propanethiol Hydroxycitronellal Isopentylamine Ethyl isovalerate Benzenethiol 3-Methylpyridine 2-Methylpyridine 2-Methylpyrazine Octyl isobutyrate 1,16-Hexadecalactone Butyl 10-undecenoate Butylamine 1-Butanethiol 1,3-Propanedithiol Pyrrole Isopropyl myristate Diethyl sebacate Methyl decanoate 2-Heptanone Isoamyl formate n-Valeraldehyde Pyridine Piperidine 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one Methyl 2-octynoate Hexylamine Hexyl alcohol Ethyl octadecanoate Heptaldehyde Hexyl octanoate Methyl 2-nonenoate Methyl 2-nonynoate Methyl 10-undecenoate Methyl laurate Myrcenyl acetate 2-Undecanone Octyl acetate Decyl acetate 2-Acetylpyridine Decanal 10-Undecen-1-ol Undecanal 10-Undecenal Dodecyl aldehyde Methyl stearate Methyl linoleate Dihydrojasmone Linalyl acetate Linalyl formate (2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-dienyl)methanal 2(2,4-Dimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-5-(1-methylpropy-) Benzyl salicylate Maltol 2,6-Dimethylthiophenol 1,4-Butanedithiol Prenyl acetate 1,8-Octanedithiol 2-Furyl methyl ketone Methyl salicylate 2-Acetyl-5-methylfuran Fenchone Benzophenone Styrallyl propionate Isobutyl benzoate Benzyl benzoate Heliotropin Indole Ethyl vanillin Vanillin Ammonium sulfide Ethyl 3-phenylglycidate Triethylamine Methyl p-anisate 4′-Methylacetophenone Cuminaldehyde 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]- 2-benzopyran Solution alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde Benzyl propionate Cinnamyl cinnamate 3-Phenylpropyl acetate Phenylacetaldehyde 3-Phenyl-1-propanol Phenoxyethanol 4-Ethylphenol 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde p-Anisaldehyde 4-Heptanone Ethyl nonanoate 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine Myrcene Propionaldehyde Isoamyl alcohol Ethyl hexanoate Allyl hexanoate Pyrrolidine Butyl acetate Isoamyl acetate Ethyl myristate Isobornyl acetate alpha-Ionone 3 methyl 4 (2,6,6 trimethyl 2 cyclohex-1-yl-3 buten 2 one)/alpha- isomethyl ionone Butylated hydroxytoluene 9-Decen-1-ol 2-Hexylcyclopentanone 2,4,-Dimethyl-2-(1,1,4,4-tetramethyltetralinyl)-1,3-dioxolan 2,6-Dimethyl-2-heptanol Menthalactone Amyl 2-furoate Methyl anthranilate Guaicwood acetate 3-Carene Methyl 3-nonenoate 3,5-Dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentadione Syringaldehyde Methyl 3-(methylthio)propionate 6-Isopropylquinoline Furfuryl 3-methylbutanoate 2-n-Heptylcyclopentanone Cuminyl nitrile cis-4-(1-Methylethyl)cyclohexanemethanol 1,3,3-Trimethyl-2-norbornanyl acetate 3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene d,l-Limonene 2-t-Butylcyclohexyloxy-2-butanol Benzyl acetate Phenethyl isovalerate p-Methylphenyl acetate 4-Allylanisole (−)-Menthone Ethyl acrylate 2,6,10-Trimethyl-9-undecenal Citronellyl propionate Hydroxycitronellal dimethyl acetal Ethyl acetoacetate Allyl heptanoate Octyl propionate Hexyl acetate Nonyl alcohol Nonyl acetate Furfuryl methyl sulfide 1-Furfurylpyrrole Methyl 2,5,10-trimethyl-2,5,9-cyclododecatrien-1-yl ketone Linalyl propionate 2-sec-Butylcyclohexanone beta-Ionone 7-Acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyltetralin p-Dimethoxybenzene Citronellyl acetate alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl acetate 2-Ethyl-3-methylpyrazine (1R)-(+)-Fenchyl alcohol 1,3,5-Undecatriene Tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-(2H)pyran cis-3-Hexenyl butyrate 4-tert-Amylcyclohexanone 1,1-Diethoxycyclohexane Hexyl tiglate Dihydro-beta-ionone Methyl undecanoate 3-Propylidenephthalide Tricyclodecenyl propionate Methyl trans-cinnamate 1,8,12-Bisabolatriene Bourgeonal (1S)-(−)-β-Pinene Androstenone trans-3-Octen-2-one 1,2-Dihydrolinalool Tetrahydromyrcenol 2,6-Dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol 2-Isobutylthiazole beta-Farnesene trans-2-Heptenal 3-Pentyltetrahydro[2H]pyranyl acetate Hexyl trans-2-butenoate Dihexyl fumarate 1,10-Dimethyl-9-decalol Ethyl 2-mercaptopropionate Cedryl methyl ether 4 Methyl-4-mercaptopentan-2-one Isoamyl octanoate trans-2-Dodecen-1-al Isoamyl benzoate (natural) Amyl salicylate Butyl levulinate 4-(Methylthio)butanol Vanillin isobutyrate Citronellyl 3-methylbut-2-enoate Tetrahydrolavandulyl acetate 2-Pentanethiol cis-4-Decenal Cyclohexaneethyl acetate Methyl 2-methylpentanoate Methyl propyl disulfide 5-Methyl-2-phenyl-2-hexenal 2-Acetylpyrazine (−)-Menthol D-Carvone 5-Methyl-3-heptanone oxime 2-Tridecenonitrile Nerolidyl acetate Geranyl isobutyrate Damascenone b-Damascone (5H)-5-Methyl-6,7-dihydrocyclopenta(b)pyrazine 2,3 or 10-Mercaptopinane Ethyl 3-hexenoate 2,6,10-Trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal 2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine 1,3-Butanedithiol 2-Heptyltetrahydrofuran Dodecane nitrile Hexyl propionate 2-Methylbutyl isovalerate 2-Isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine 3,7-Dimethyl-6-octenyl 2-methylcrotonate alpha-Damascone Phenethyl 2-methylbutyrate Methyl dihydrojasmonate 4-Hexen-3-one Ethyl 2-cyclohexylpropionate trans,trans-2,4-Decadienal cis-3-Hexenyl benzoate a,3,3-Trimethylcyclohexylmethyl formate Dihydromyrcenyl formate Diacetin 2,5-Dimethyl-2-octen-6-one 4-Phenylbutane-2-one Hexyl butyrate 4-Methyl-2-phenyl-2-pentenal Allyl cyclohexanepropionate 2-Methoxy-4-propylphenol trans-2,cis-6-Nonadien-1-ol Acetaldehyde ethyl (Z)-3-hexenyl acetal 2-Methyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)but-2-en-1-ol 2-Ethyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-2-buten-1-ol 2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine 2-Methyl-3-furanthiol 4,5-Dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one Thiazole Watermelon ketone Ethyl 2-hexylacetoacetate Hexahydro-1,1,5,5-tetramethyl[2H]-2,4a-methanonaphthalen-8[5H]one Phenylacetaldehyde glyceryl acetal 2-Acetyl-2-thiazoline 4(Octahydro-4,7-methano[5H]inden-5-ylidene)butanal Ethyl 2-trans-4-cis-decadienoate 2-Methoxypyrazine 4-(4-Hydroxy-4-Methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde 4-t-Butylcyclohexyl acetate Acetylcedrene 6,10-Dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-yl acetat (cis & trans) 3-(Methylthio)propionaldehyde 6-(3-Pentenyl)tetrahydro[2H]pyran-2-one delta-Nonalactone (Z)-3-Hexenylpropionate Dihydro-4-methyl-5-pentylfuran-2(3H)one 6,7-Dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)indanone 6,6-Dimethyl-2-norpinenepropionaldehyde 1-Octen-3-ol 4-(Methylthio)-2-butanone 6-Isopropyl-2[1H]octahydronaphthalenone 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline 3,5,5-Trimethyl-1-hexanol 1,9-Nonanedithiol Ethyl dehydrocyclogeranate 2-Isopropyl-5-methyl-2-hexenal Methyl phenethyl ether 3,3,5,5-Tetramethyl-4-(1-ethoxyethenyl)cyclohexanone 2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone Solution cis-3-Hexen-1-yl acetate trans-3-Hexenyl acetate 1-Vinyl-2-(1-methylpropyl)cyclohexyl acetate Dodecahydrotetramethylnaphthofuran 5-Cyclohexadecen-1-one Isohexenyltetrahydrobenzaldehyde 2-Heptylfuran (E)-6,10-Dimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one 2,4-Dimethyl-5-acetylthiazole 5-Methyl-3-butyltetrahydropyran-4-yl acetate p-Mentha-8-thiol-3-one Methyl (p-tolyloxy)acetate 3-Propylbicyclo-(2.2.1)hept-5-en-2-carboxyaldehyde Octyl 2-furoate alpha-Furfuryl octanoate Ethyl 2-methylpentanoate Furfuryl heptanoate 9-Decenal 3,7-Dimethyl octanenitrile trans-Nerolidol 2,5-Dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)furanone Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal (Z)-3-Hexenyl isobutyrate Octahydro-7-methyl-1,4-methanonaphthalen-6-[2H]-one Anethol 3,7-Dimethyl-7-methoxyoctan-2-ol Diisopropyl disulfide p-Menthane-3,8-diol Diacetyl 2-Ethylhexanal ethylene glycol acetal Cinnamyl nitrile 2-Phenyl-2-butenal Octahydrocoumarin 2,2′-(Dithiodimethylene)difuran 3,4-Hexanedione Farnesol NOOTKATONE d-Fenchone ALPHA CEDRENE ((−)-a-Cedrene; 1S,2R,5S)-2,6,6,8- Tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.01.5]undec-8-ene) 1,4-Cineole Methyl atrarate Eucalyptol 2-Pentylcyclopentanone cis-Jasmone Acetovanillone Dihydro-alpha-terpineol Cyclopentadecanone 1,4-Dithiane Borneol n-Amyl phenylacetate Acetoin 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienenitrile l-Citronellyl nitrile 3-(Methylthio)-1-hexanol 2,4,6-Trimethyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane Ethyl (±)-2-hydroxycaproate Methyl 3,3-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-carboxylate Phenylethyl n-butyl ether trans-2-Undecenal 4-Isopropylbenzyl alcohol 3-Ethylpyridine Methyl benzyl ether Ethyl valerate Amyl hexanoate Isobutyl propionate Ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate Tricyclodecenyl acetate 3-Methyl-1-cyclopentadecanone Hexyl phenylacetate 2-Acetyl-3,5(6)-dimethylpyrazine 3,5,5-Trimethylhexanal Octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-acetonaphthone 2-Butyl-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane Thujone 4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone Ethylene dodecanedioate 3-Methyl-5-phenyl-1-pentanol 3-Methyl-5-phenyl-1-pentanal 3-Butylidenephthalide 2-Coumaranone Methyl isovalerate 3-Methyl-2-buten-1-ol 2,6-Nonadienal (trans, cis) Phenylethyl isoamyl ether 4-Carvomenthenol Caryophyllene acetate 2-Methyl-3-tetrahydrofuranthiol delta-Damascone 2,6-Xylenol 1-Phenyl-1,2-propanedione Ethyl 2-ethyl-6,6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate Ethyl tiglate 3,5,5-Trimethylhexyl acetate Formaldehyde cyclododecyl ethyl acetal Terpinolene D-(+)-Xylose Isobutyl 2-butenoate 3-Heptanol Menthanyl acetate Acetoxymethyl-isolongifolene 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine Ethyl 2-methyl-6-pentyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-enecarboxylate Butyl formate Allyl sulfide Tetrahydrogeranial d-Limonene 2,3-Pentanedione Tributyrin Phenethyl alcohol 2-Pentyl butyrate Methyl 2-furoate cis-3-Hexenyl cis-3-hexenoate L-Menthyl lactate Isobutyl tiglate Ethyl pyruvate 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-nonadienenitrile Dihydrocarveol Cyclohexyl acetate Furfuryl acetate Furfuryl butyrate Methyl butyrate Ethyl trans-2-butenoate 2-Methylbutyl acetate 6-Methylheptan-3-one Ethyl methyl sulfide Dimethyl disulfide 3-Penten-2-one Hexyl salicylate Diethyl malate Propyl hexanoate Ethyl undecanoate Ethyl palmitate Butyl 2-methylvalerate Isoamyl laurate 2-Isobutyl-4-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydropyran Isopropyl butyrate Amyl octanoate Phenethylamine Propyl isobutyrate 4-Propylphenol L-Carvone 5-(2,2,3-Trimethylcyclopent-3-en-1-yl)-3-methylpentan-2-ol trans-4-Decenal 2,5,9,10-Tetramethyl-5,6-dehydro-1-decalyl formate Maltol isobutyrate 2,2,5-Trimethyl-5-pentylcyclopentanone 4-Methyl-5-thiazoleethanol acetate Isoamyl isovalerate Methyl tiglate Hexanal 4-Allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol Isopropyl 2-methylbutyrate p-Isobutyl-alpha-methylhydrocinnamaldehyde trans-2-Hexen-1-al 4-Heptenal 3,5,5-Trimethylhexyl formate 3,3,5-Trimethylcyclohexylethylether Isopropyl alcohol cis-3-Hexenyl methyl carbonate Allyl amylglycolate para-Ethyl-alpha,alpha-dimethyldihydrocinnamaldehyde Hydratropaldehyde propylene glycol acetal Phenethyl pivalate 1,1-Dimethoxy-2,2,5-trimethyl-4-hexene Methyl sulfoxide Ethyl-2-t-butylcyclohexylcarbonate 7-Formyl-5-isopropyl-2-methylbicyclo[2,2,2]oct-2-ene Amylcyclohexyl acetate (mixed isomers) cis-3-Hexenyl tiglate Hexyl benzoate (−)-Ambroxide Isolongifolene epoxide Phenylethyl isopropyl ether 4-Methyl-4-phenyl-2-pentyl acetate Grisalva 2-Ethoxy-9-methylene-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.3.1.]nonane Methyl 1-methyl-4-isopropylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-enecarboxylate Methyl sorbate Cyclomugual 2-Methyldecanonitrile 6- or 7-Ethylideneoctahydro-5,8-methano[2H]-1-benzopyran-2-one 5-Ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)furanone delta-Decalactone gamma-Decalactone 1-(2,2,6-Trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-hexanol 2-methoxyphenol reaction products with hydrogenated 2,2-dimethyl-3- methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane delta-Undecalactone 1-p-Menthene-8-thiol 1-Propanol delta-Dodecalactone Phenethyl 2-furoate 2,5,5-Trimethyloctahydro-2-naphthol 2-Methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl)butanal Methyl trans-2-octenoate 2,2,6-Trimethyl-6-vinyltetrahydropyran 2,2-Dimethyl-5-(1-methylpropen-1-yl)tetrahydrofuran Ethyl 2-methylbutyrate Citronellyloxyacetaldehyde Butyl butyryllactate Acetaldehyde phenethyl propyl acetal Allyl phenoxyacetate Ethylamine Acetaldehyde Ethanethiol 1,5-Dimethyl bicyclo(3.2.1)octan-8-one oxime Dimethyl sulfide Citral dimethyl acetal (±)-Camphor Cedarwood oil alcohols Cedryl acetate Terpinyl isobutyrate 3-Methyl-3-pentanol ω-6-Hexadecenlactone Isoamyl cinnamate Isobutyl acetoacetate Isobutyl benzyl carbinol Ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate (1S)-(−)-α-Pinene L-Fenchone Triethyl citrate Linalyl isobutyrate Linalyl cinnamate Linalool Isobutylamine Isobutyl alcohol Isobutyraldehyde 2-Butanol 2-Butanone Pyruvaldehyde Methyl acetate alpha-Irone Allyl alpha-ionone Geranium bourbon 1,3-Dimethylbut-3-enyl isobutyrate Cognac oil, green alpha-Terpinyl acetate p-tert-Butyl-alpha-methyldihydrocinnamic aldehyde alpha-Pinene Ethyl octahydro-4,7-methano[3aH]indene-3a-carboxylate Musk ketone Musk xylol 4-Methyl-3-decen-5-ol 2,4,4,7-Tetramethyl-6,8-nonadiene-3-one oxime Acetyl diisoamylene 3,5,6,6-Tetramethyl-4-methylene-2-heptanol 2-Nonanone 2,4-Dimethyl-4-phenyltetrahydrofuran Skatole N-Methyl-N-phenyl-2-methylbutyramide Diethyl phthalate 3-Methyldodecanonitrile Isobornyl isobutyrate 2-Methoxybiphenyl Methyl 2-methylbutyrate Allyl mercaptan Isoamyl salicylate Caryophyllene p-Methoxybenzonitrile Tetrahydrolinalool Diethyl L-tartrate o-t-Butylcyclohexyl acetate 2-Isopropylphenol Isopulegyl acetate (−)-Isopulegol Menthone Thymol Salicylaldehyde 1-Methylnaphthalene Trichloromethyl phenyl carbinyl acetate 2-Methylpentyl 2-methylpentanoate 2-Phenylpropionaldehyde dimethyl acetal Naphthalene 2-Naphthalenethiol Coumarin trans-Isoeugenyl benzyl ether trans-2-Hexen-1-ol cis-3-Hexen-1-ol Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone 4-Allyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene beta-Naphthyl ethyl ether 2-Phenylpropionaldehyde Methyl benzoate Methyl nicotinate Ethyl benzoate alpha-Methylbenzyl acetate 1-Ethylhexyl tiglate Ethyl p-anisate Isoamyl benzoate Geranyl benzoate Piperine Propenylguaethol 2-Hexyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one o-Cresol 2,5-Xylenol 2-(2-(4-Methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)propyl)cyclopentanone 2,3-Heptanedione Eugenol Isoeugenol Ethyl isobutyrate Isobutyl isobutyrate Citronellyl isobutyrate Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol alpha-Terpineol alpha-Methylbenzyl alcohol alpha-Phellandrene gamma-Terpinene alpha-Terpinene p-Cymene Composé Inconnu Forskolin Sodium Sulfide hydrate sodium methanethiolate 3-mercapto-1-pentanol 3-mercapto-2-methyl-1-butanol 3-Mercapto-3-methyl-1-hexanol trimethylamine HCL putrescine cadaverine morpholine 4-methylmorpholine Urea Androstadienol geovertol methylgeosmin 1,3,5-trichloro-2-methoxybenzene N-ethyl pyrrol 2,3,5-trimethyl pyridine ammonium hydroxyde 1-cyclohexylethanol 1-cyclohexylethyl acetate 1-cyclohexylethyl butyrate 1-cyclohexylethyl propionate Agarbois Anapear Anjeruk Azurone Belambre Camonal cis-3-hexenyl salicylate cosmone Dihydrofarnesal Dihydromyrcenyl acetate Ethylene Glycol Monophenoxyacetate Florymoss Georgywood Heliotropin nirvanolide opalal paradisamide Pepperwood Pharaone rossitol serenolide (E)-6-ethyl-3-methyl-oct-6-en-1-ol Tanaisone tonkarose ultravanil undecanol yara yara methyl 1,3-dimethylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate methyl 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate undec-10-enenitrile (9Z)-undec-9-enenitrile (9E)-undec-9-enenitrile 1-{spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl}pent-4-en-1-one 1-{spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl}pent-4-en-1-one tricyclo decenylacetate Tricyclodecenyl propionate 2 ethyl 3,5 dimethyl pyrazine 2 ethyl 3,6 dimethyl pyrazine Tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-(2H)pyran Helional 6-ethyl-3-methyl-oct-5-en-1-ol Galaxolide Ambrettolide Habanolide Muscenone Traseolide Moxalone Florhydral Furnisal Polysantol Ebanol Javanol Marenil Indoclear Pivacyclene Neocaspirene Herbanate Methyl laitone Ethyl laitone Amber ketal Ambermax (composé 1) Ambermax (composé 2) Ambrocenide Metambrate Spirambrene 1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)pent-4-en-1-one 1-(5,5-dimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)pent-4-en-1-one Reseda Body Ligustral Verdoracine Vethymine Alicate Undecene-2-nitrile Methyl diantilis Toscanol Safraleine Levistamel Dihydroisojasmonate Carvacrol Violet nitrile 4-methylidene-2-phenyloxane 4-methyl-2-phenyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran Pelargene Dispirone Gyrane Glycolierral Gardocyclene Felvinone Azarbre PTBCHA high cis Isobutylquinolene Tetrahydronaphthol Methyl epijasmonate 1(R)-2(S) Methyl epijasmonate 4-cyclohexyl-2-methylbutan-2-ol methyl 2-(methylamino)benzoate 2-[2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)acetyl]cyclopentan-1-one [4-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)cyclohex-3-en-1-yljmethyl acetate NEROLIONE 1-{10,10-dimethyl-2,6-dimethylidenebicyclo[7.2.0]undecan-5-yl}ethan- 1-one 1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione methyl 2-[(E)-(7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloctylidene)amino]benzoate 2-(2-methylphenyl)ethan-1-ol 2-phenylethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate 4-(2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)butan-2-one (8E)-1,5,9-trimethyl-13-oxabicyclo[10.1.0]trideca-4,8-diene 2-ethoxy-4-[(propan-2-yloxy)methyl]phenol 3,4′-dimethylspiro[oxirane-2,9′- tricyclo[6.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,7}]undecan]-4′-ene 3,4′-dimethylspiro[oxirane-2,9′- tricyclo[6.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,7}]undecan]-4′-ene 3,4′-dimethylspiro[oxirane-2,9′- tricyclo[6.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,7}]undecan]-4′-ene (9E)-9-ethylidene-3- oxatricyclo[6.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,7}]undecane 2,4,4,7-tetramethyloct-6-en-3-one Cyclohexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (6E)-3,7-dimethylnona-1,6-dien-3-ol (6Z)-3,7-dimethylnona-1,6-dien-3-yl acetate ethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate 1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)pent-4-en-1-one 2-methyl-5-phenylpentan-1-ol 9-methoxytricyclo[5.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,6}]decane-3-carbaldehyde 8-methoxytricyclo[5.2.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,6}]dec-3-ene methyl 2-{[(1 E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylprop-1-en-1- yl]amino}benzoate methyl 1,4a-dimethyl-7-(propan-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a- dodecahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylate 1-methyl-4-(4-methylpentyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde (4Z)-cyclooct-4-en-1-yl methyl carbonate methyl 2-{[(1 E)-2-(2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)prop-1-en-1- yl]amino}benzoate 2-methyldodecanal 4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.0{circumflex over ( )}{2,5}]dodecan-1-ol 2H,4H,4aH,5H,9bH-indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxine 8,8-bis(1H-indol-3-yl)-2,6-dimethyloctan-2-ol ethyl 2-phenylbutanoate (1E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)pent-1-en-3-one 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl propanoate 2-methylpropyl 2-hydroxybenzoate methyl 2-{[(1E)-2-methylpent-1-en-1-yl]amino}benzoate 2,4,6-trimethylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde 3-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanenitrile 8-(propan-2-yl)-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one 2-(5-ethenyl-5-methyloxolan-2-yl)propan-2-ol 2,4-dimethyl-2H,4H,4aH,5H,9bH-indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxine 1-[1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)ethoxy]-2-methylpropan-2-yl propanoate 2-[1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)ethoxy]-2-methylpropyl propanoate (3aR,5aS,9aS,9bS)-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-2,4,5,5a,7,8,9,9b-octahydro-1H- benzo[e]benzofuran 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for counteracting the perception of sweat malodour in a subject, comprising identifying an agent that decreases the function of one or more Olfactory Receptor polypeptide(s) (ORs) selected from the group consisting of: OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR51I2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5 comprising the steps of: a) contacting said one or more ORs with one or more carboxylic acid(s) selected from the group of consisting of: butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methly-2-hexenoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 4-ethyloctanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid and benzoic acid, in the presence and in the absence of said agent under conditions permitting the binding of said carboxylic acid(s) to said ORs or permitting the activation of said ORs by said carboxylic acid(s), b) comparing the binding of said one or more ORs to said one or more carboxylic acid(s), or the activity of said one or more ORs, in the presence and in the absence of said agent, wherein a decrease in binding or activity in the presence of said agent, relative to the binding or activity in the absence of the agent, identifies the agent as an agent that modulates the function of said one or more ORs in response to said one or more carboxylic acid(s); and administering the agent to the subject, thereby reducing the function of said one or more ORs and counteracting the perception of sweat malodour.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of said carboxylic acids to all 7 ORs listed therein, or for decreasing the activation of all 7 ORs listed therein by said carboxylic acids.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of said carboxylic acids to all members of the group of 6 ORs consisting of: OR52L1, OR52E8, OR52B2, OR52E1, OR52A5 and OR56A5, or for decreasing the activation of all 6 ORs of said group by said carboxylic acids.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of pentanoic acid to OR52L1, or for decreasing the activation of OR52L1 by pentanoic acid.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid to OR52E8, or for decreasing the activation of OR52E8 by 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid to OR52B2, or for decreasing the activation of OR52B2 by hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methyl-2-hexanoic acid, or benzoic acid to OR51I2, or for decreasing the activation of OR51I2 by butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, (E)-3-methyl-2-hexanoic acid, or benzoic acid.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of butanoic acid to OR52E1, or for decreasing the activation of OR52E1 by butanoic acid.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of 4-ethyloctanoic acid to OR52A5, or for decreasing the activation of OR52A5 by 4-ethyloctanoic acid.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is tested for decreasing the binding of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid to OR56A5, or for decreasing the activation of OR56A5 by hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, or undecanoic acid.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more OR polypeptides is defined by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or
 14. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more carboxylic acid(s) may be detectably labeled with a moiety selected from the group comprising: a radioisotope, a fluorophore, and a quencher of fluorescence.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is present in a sample.
 14. The method according to claim 1, in which said one or more OR polypeptide(s) is contacted with said one or more carboxylic acid(s) at their EC₅₀ concentration.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is identified as an agent that modulates the function of ORs according to the invention, when said agent decreases the intracellular response induced by said carboxylic acid(s), by at least 10%.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contacting is performed in or on a cell expressing said OR polypeptide.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said cell may be selected from: Human embryonic kidney cells (Hek293), Chinese hamster cells (CHO), Monkey cells (COS), primary olfactory cells, Xenopus cells, insect cells, yeast or bacteria.
 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contacting is performed in or on synthetic liposomes or virus-induced budding membranes containing an OR polypeptide.
 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed using a membrane fraction from cells expressing said OR polypeptide.
 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed on a protein chip.
 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said measuring is performed using a method selected from label displacement, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, fluorescence quenching, and fluorescence polarization.
 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a nucleic acid, and a small organic molecule.
 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of comparing an activity of the OR(s) comprises detecting a change in the level of a second messenger.
 24. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of comparing an activity of the ORs comprises measurement of guanine nucleotide binding/coupling or exchange, adenylate cyclase activity, cAMP, Protein Kinase C activity, Protein Kinase A activity phosphatidylinosotol breakdown, diacylglycerol, inositol triphosphate, intracellular calcium, calcium flux, arachidonic acid, MAP kinase activity, tyrosine kinase activity, melanophore assay, receptor initialization assay, or reporter gene expression.
 25. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of comparing the activity of the ORs comprises using a fluorescence or luminescence assay.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said fluorescence and luminescence assays comprise the use of Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorophores including Fluo3, Fluo4 or Fura; Ca3-kit family or aequorin.
 27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said assays may apply an automated fluorometric or luminescent reader such as FUSS or FLIPR.
 28. The method according to claim 1, which is a high throughput screening method.
 29. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent is part of a chemical library or animal organ extracts. 